WNC Fallon Holds Honor Society Induction

Staff report -- President Vince Solis, Western Nevada College gave the keynote address Friday night at the induction ceremony to the Beta Theta Iota Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, held at the Pennington Life Center in Fallon.  There were 19 new members inducted into the chapter. Speaking to a large group of family members and supporters of the inductees, President Solis explained that Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society, serving over 1,000 chapters at colleges around the world. “PTK is one of the most important groups you could belong to,” he said, “these are the students we will all be working for one day.” According to Solis, the students who are accepted to PTK graduate college at rate of 90% as opposed to the general population of college students who have a 30% graduation rate. They are academically successful, and they go on to shape policy, advance medical technology, and make laws. “When you list this in your resume, people take you seriously,” he said. He gave students the following advice:

1. Never pass up an opportunity to speak – this is the first generation whose entire life is shaped and documented on the internet, speaking in public will distinguish students.
2. Because of what you do people will look to you for guidance - have integrity.
3. Know how to cope – develop what are referred to as “soft skills” and be flexible and positive
4. Learn to listen
5. Be level headed in your approach
6. Learn to communicate
7. Develop the ability to deal with criticism -- you will be a leader by virtue of your successes here, you will need thick skin.

Expressing his gratitude to the students and their families, Solis closed by thanking inductees. “Thank you for choosing WNC for your college experience,” he said. Fallon Chapter Officers, Jordan Moon (Vice President), Lauryn Mulac (Secretary), Allie Pysell (President), Keith Mason (Treasurer) choreographed the ceremony with the support of WNC staff; Holly O'Toole, Fallon Campus and Rural Sites Director; Angela Viera, Fallon office staff; Sierra Montana, Scheduling Coordinator based in Carson; Kathryn Whitaker, adjunct English Instructor; Desiree Blunt-Lamkey, Student Employee; as well as PTK advisors Jessica Rowe, English Instructor; and Eric York, Math Instructor. Inductees in attendance were Brooke Shyne, Hannah Jones, Jessica Rowe, Ashley Sorenson, Lindsay Regan, Jazmine Perez, Savannah Robinson, Maria Whitaker, Myraflor McNamer. Inductees who were not in attendance include: Bobbie Bonta, Kaimani-Lei Feliciano, Karley Frederick, Rebekah Henderson, Conor Keitz, Michele McClellan, Noemi Ortiz, Emily Richards, Erica Stritenberger, Dowain Swain, Elizabeth Williams. The following inductees are JumpStart students who are dual enrolled in WNC and high school: Brooke Shyne, Hannah Jones, Ashley Sorenson, Jazmine Perez, Savannah Robinson, Maria Whitaker. Among the new members who were not present, Karley Frederick, Conor Keitz, Emily Richards, Elizabeth Williams are also JumpStart students. The WNC staff and students also expressed their gratitude to Lisa Erquiaga for the generous use of the Pennington Life Center for the ceremony.             Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices. Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon.