Welcome to the Pi Sigma chapter!
Pi Sigma is the Highline chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs. Phi Theta Kappa has more than 2 million members worldwide and is active in more than 1,250 chapters in every state of the United States as well the U.S. Territories, British Virgin Islands, Marshall Islands, Canada, Germany, Federated States of Micronesia, United Arab Emirates, adnthe Republicof Palau.
Mission statement:
The mission of the Pi Sigma chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society is two-fold: 1) to recognize and encourage the academic achievements of two-year college students and 2) to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.
Meetings:
The Pi Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa meets every week on Friday, from 12-1pm in Building 8, Room 301 to plan upcoming events, to discuss academic and leadership opportunities, and to just have fun! We whole-heartedly encourage any and all interested students to join us, whether or not you are an ‘official’ PTK member. Come join us!
Events in the works:
- Thanksgiving Food Drive
- Fall PTK Orientation
- Student Achievement Seminar
…If you have ideas for fun activities or events, let us know! This is your society and without you, we can't contribute as much as we can together.
You can email us with all your ideas, or just come to the meeting. We’ll see you there!
Benefits of Membership:
While the Pi Sigma meetings are open to all Highline students and their guests, ‘official’ membership in Phi Theta Kappa does have its privileges. Here are just a few:
- Transfer Scholarships - Members may apply for more than $37 million in transfer scholarships, provided exclusively to Society members by more than 700 senior institutions.
- CollegeFish.org free enrollment - Members have free access to Phi Theta Kappa’s online transfer tool. You can research colleges, learn about transfer scholarships, manage important transfer dates and deadlines and communicate with four-year college representatives to ensure a smooth transfer to a four-year college.
- Membership Credentials - The Golden Key Membership Pin, Membership Certificate and Membership ID Card are mailed to the member's home address.
- Press Release Announcing Membership - At the member's request, a press release is sent electronically to a newspaper of the member's choosing.
- Phi Theta Kappa Graduation Regalia - The Society's Honors Stole, Tassel and additional graduation regalia may be purchased and worn at college commencement exercises.
- Gold Diploma Seal - The Diploma Seal may be affixed to the member's community college diploma to denote Society membership.
- Transcript Notation - Society membership may be noted on the member's community college transcripts.
- Letters of Recommendation - Request letters of recommendation from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to a college admissions counselor, scholarship official or potential employer.
- Career Resource Center - The Career Resource Center provides members with career trends, research, tips and tools for navigating the job market.
- …And So Much More! Visit the PTK international website to find out more.
Becoming an Official Member:
To become an official member of Phi Theta Kappa, you must have completed 12 college-level credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The Pi Sigma chapter invites eligible students to join the Phi Theta Kappa honor society on a quarterly basis. If you received an invitation letter, log on to the Phi Theta Kappa international website and enter your passcode to get started. Membership fees are $50 USD.
If you believe you are eligible to join Phi Theta Kappa, but have not received an invitation letter, please contact Teri Balkenende at (206) 878-3710 ext. 3137 or via email at tbalkenende@highline.edu to receive a passcode that will allow you to join.
Other Opportunities for Highline Academic Achievers:
Highline Community College offers ample support for academically motivated students to reach their goals. The Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society is only one arm of that support. Students seeking one-on-one assistance in preparing themselves and their applications for transition to a four-year academic institution or professional/ technical program should also check out the Highline Honors Scholar Program.
Membership or participation in Phi Theta Kappa does not automatically confer the benefits of the Highline Honors Scholar Program; nor does participation in the Highline Honors Scholar Program bring automatic membership in Phi Theta Kappa. The two programs are separate, though we often work in partnership. Academically motivated students are strongly encouraged to check out both groups to get the most out of their Highline experience.
