Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society, recognizes student academic success and provides opportunities to develop professional and leadership skills, earn scholarships, explore career paths, and expand goals. It is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1.5 million members and 1,200 chapters.

Tau Iota, Ocean County College’s chapter, has enjoyed great success throughout the years and received the society’s highest honors, being named a REACH (Recognizing Excellence and Completion with Honors) Chapter, a Five-Star Chapter, and a Gold Chapter. Additionally, hundreds of OCC students and several campus administrators have been individually honored for their PTK contributions.

The many achievements of our chapter would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment and dedication of the Tau Iota advisors. At the December 2021 Board meeting OCC’s President, Dr. Jon Larson, recognized PTK advisor milestones during the meeting. Service pins were presented to Mr. David Rickert, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Social Science, for five years as an advisor, and Dr. Jennifer Dellner, Professor of English and Literature, for ten years as an advisor.

Additionally, one of the campaigns offered by Phi Theta Kappa Foundation involves the purchase of bricks for the Alpha Courtyard at the PTK Center for Excellence in Jackson, Mississippi, to honor those who support and serve the ideals and mission of PTK. Dr. Larson honored retired advisor, Dr. William Rickert, for his 44 years as OCC’s PTK advisor, with a brick dedicated by the College to honor Dr. Rickert. The excellence and success of OCC’s Tau Iota Chapter is due, in large part, to the extraordinary time and effort he expended to lead, direct, and counsel PTK students for so many years.