Spartanburg Community College students earn top honors: Named to Phi Theta Kappa All-State Academic Team

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Spartanburg, SC – Three students from Spartanburg Community College, Shanai Peery, Ashlie Petty, and Danielle Rodriguez, have been recognized among the top fifty students in the South Carolina Technical College System. Their outstanding academic achievements have earned them a place on the prestigious 2024 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-State Academic Team.

Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, attracts outstanding students from technical, junior, and community colleges nationwide. South Carolina’s team members have demonstrated exceptional academic prowess, maintaining GPAs of 3.5 or higher, and have showcased an impressive record of service to their respective colleges.

Shanai Peery of Greenville is pursuing a degree in Middle-Level Education, is a dual-attendee of SCC and USC-Upstate, serves as a member of the Parent Teacher Organization, and is the Assistant Coach for the Florence Chapel Robotics Team.

Ashlie Petty of Blacksburg is pursuing a nursing degree at SCC, is an active PTK and the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) member, serves as a Peer Tutor in the College’s TRIO program, and is a loving mother of five children.

Danielle Rodriquez of Eden, NC is pursuing a degree in Computer Technology at SCC. She serves as President of SCC’s PTK chapter and a Peer Tutor to her fellow students in programming concepts and algorithms. She is currently a teacher’s assistant for the Computer Technology Department.

The advisor team of SCC’s PTK chapter, Beta Sigma Psi, was also nominated for “Advisor of the Year” award. The chapter is advised by faculty members Warren “Tim” Arnold, Dr. Alan Duesterhaus, Dr. Akash Garg, Traci Lawrence, Luciana Singleton, and Amber Sutton.

“Working with the students of PTK is one of the best parts of my work at SCC,” said Mr. Tim Arnold, Beta Sigma Psi’s Chief Faculty Advisor. “It truly is its own reward. The four PTK hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship are continually exemplified by these stellar students.”

Thanks to the dedicated work of its members and advisors, Beta Sigma Psi consistently raises the bar for excellence in the region. As one of eighty-one chapters in the Carolinas Region (NC, SC, Bermuda) of PTK, Beta Sigma Psi stands out among the nineteen chapters awarded the honor society’s prestigious ‘five-star status’ in 2023.

Remarkably, only four of these top-performing chapters are in SC, with Beta Sigma Psi proudly claiming its place among them. The chapter has earned this significant honor the last six years in a row.