OCC’s PTK Chapter Ranked Third in the World!

They've done it again!

Onondaga Community College’s chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is ranked third in the world! This is the fourth year in a row OCC's chapter, named Alpha Sigma Zeta, is ranked in the top ten out of nearly 1,300 international chapters. “We’re so excited! The students have worked so hard and are very deserving,” said PTK Faculty Advisor Dr. Annie Tuttle. The rankings were unveiled during the annual international conference, “PTK Catalyst,” which was held this past weekend in Denver.

OCC’s PTK members needed an extra suitcase to bring all of their awards home to their suite on the second floor of Coulter Hall. The list of awards includes:

• Second finalist to Most Distinguished Chapter (this is the “Third in the World” designation).
• Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award, which is given to a school with a Distinguished Chapter for 3 years or more. 
• 
  Distinguished Honors In Action Project which focused on mental health and disability. Their efforts included collecting and donating related books to the Children's Learning Center in Ferrante Hall, and hosting a "Living Library" on campus. Their work culminated with the creation of 200 mental health care bags for students at Syracuse's Dr. Weeks Elementary School. PTK students put heartwarming messages on each of the bags like "You Are Loved" and "OCC Cares." Inside each of the bags were items like stress balls, bubble makers, fidget spinners, and pencil sharpeners.
• Distinguished Honors In Action Project - Theme 4 (the top three projects in each theme are recognized)
•  OCC’s officer team was named a Distinguished Chapter Officer Team.
• Dr. Tuttle was elected Secretary of the Association of Chapter Advisors.
• OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill was awarded the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award for her support of students.

”We’re so proud of our students, their advisors, and the entire PTK family at OCC. To be ranked third in the world out of nearly 1,300 chapters, and to maintain such a high level of success for four years in a row, is truly remarkable. Our students work related to mental health this year was especially meaningful. Their community-focused actions truly made a difference in the lives of others,” said Dr. Crabill.