I had the pleasure of attending the Phi Theta Kappa honor society induction on Friday night at the Parsippany Campus. It was a wonderful event, the type that makes you proud to be part of higher education. PTK inductees are adult learners in the associates program who are maintaining a 3.8 GPA or higher. That standard demands near perfection, ensuring that PTK members are learners with a purpose.
The event confirmed for me, amongst others things, that education changes lives. I saw beaming family members filling the seats, camcorders in hand, anxious to record the event into permanence. Afterwards, flashbulbs popped as learners posed proudly with their induction certificates. Flower bouquets were presented and handshakes and hugs issued freely. Inductees, along with their family and friends lingered at the reception that followed, clearly enjoying the moment and savoring the achievement.
The significance of the event was a bit different than commencement (an event I also enjoy immensely). Commencement celebrates the completion of an educational period and the earning of a degree. The PTK induction was, plain and simple, a celebration of education done right.
Nights like these remind you of why you make the personal expenditures that good teaching requires. You do it because it matters.
[As a side note, a tip of the hat to Kathy Gandy, a fellow adjunct instructor, who organized the event, tended to the slightest details, and generated a truly special event to honor the hard work of the learners. Kathy is pictured above, left, with Kathleen Ball, President of the Delta Phi Chapter of PTK. Well done, Kathy!]
The event confirmed for me, amongst others things, that education changes lives. I saw beaming family members filling the seats, camcorders in hand, anxious to record the event into permanence. Afterwards, flashbulbs popped as learners posed proudly with their induction certificates. Flower bouquets were presented and handshakes and hugs issued freely. Inductees, along with their family and friends lingered at the reception that followed, clearly enjoying the moment and savoring the achievement.
The significance of the event was a bit different than commencement (an event I also enjoy immensely). Commencement celebrates the completion of an educational period and the earning of a degree. The PTK induction was, plain and simple, a celebration of education done right.
Nights like these remind you of why you make the personal expenditures that good teaching requires. You do it because it matters.
[As a side note, a tip of the hat to Kathy Gandy, a fellow adjunct instructor, who organized the event, tended to the slightest details, and generated a truly special event to honor the hard work of the learners. Kathy is pictured above, left, with Kathleen Ball, President of the Delta Phi Chapter of PTK. Well done, Kathy!]
