March 20, 2009

Photo: Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) Electrical Systems Installation and Maintenance (ESIM) student, Ben Nyberg (Laconia - left), lights the candle representing the torch of knowledge during LRCC’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society Induction Ceremony last night. Congratulating Nyberg is PTK Advisor, Debbie Brady (Gilford – right). Nyberg, along with 19 other LRCC students, was inducted into the prestigious organization representing two-year colleges worldwide.

"It is not easy to maintain the grade point average (GPA) needed for invitation into Phi Theta Kappa," says Nyberg, completing his second semester at LRCC having earned a near perfect 3.94 GPA in his first semester. "It feels good to be recognized for hard work and personal achievement."

"Twenty is an impressive number of students who have achieved the GPA necessary to be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa at LRCC," says Professor Brady, who teaches in LRCC’s Associate of Nursing Degree program. "&ll of these students are a tribute to the Community College System of New Hampshire."

Nyberg is working as an electrical apprentice at Doherty Electric in Franklin. Following graduation, Nyberg plans to transfer to UNH Durham and complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.

Other LRCC Phi Theta Kappa inductees were Natasha Avery (Laconia), Sean Boivin (Phillips, ME), Joshua Bureau (Laconia), Helen Case (Laconia), Jared Cloutier (Manchester), Tamara Cornelissen (Alton), Colleen Gould (Gilford), Angela Guyotte (Campton), Noah Hallgren (Berlin), Peter Hicks (Campton), Raymond King (Manchester), Kyle Levesque (Danbury), Michelle Moore (Franklin), Raymond Mudgett (Moultonborough), Katherine Smith (Bristol), Jenna Stapleton (Gilmanton), Jason Stelmach (Laconia), Davina Walker (Plymouth), and Geoffrey Weiler (Gilmanton Iron Works).

Today, Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1.5 million members and 1,200 chapters located in 50 United States, U.S. territories, Canada, Germany, and Japan.