FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/23/2016
CLEVELAND, WI –
Fifty-eight students from Lakeshore Technical College recently joined the Beta Lamda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Thirty-two members attended the Induction Ceremony held at Lakeshore Culinary Institute on April 7. A reception for the new inductees was held prior to the ceremony.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) has become one of the largest and most prestigious honor societies in higher education. PTK is the only honor society that serves two-year colleges offering associate degree programs. Membership is based primarily on academic excellence and is extended by invitation only.
A recent study of PTK members shows that they have an overall student success rate of 91 percent compared to a national success rate of just 38 percent. Not only are PTK members four times more likely to complete college than an average student, but they are nearly twice as likely to complete college as students with similar grade point averages (3.5 or higher). In addition, leadership development is a hallmark of PTK, and employers are looking for leadership skills.
A formal welcome was given by Dr. Michael Lanser, LTC President and the keynote speaker for the evening of celebration was Mary Rathsack, Accounting and Business Management Instructor at LTC. The PTK officers presiding over the ceremony were Heather Wiederhold, President and Jennifer Bink, VP of College Relations.
New PTK members are listed by their Wisconsin hometown unless otherwise noted and include:
Belgium
Philip Fellenz
Brillion
Tyler Foulk
Cascade
Taylor Ivy
Cedar Grove
Dustin Runkel
Cleveland
Caleb Holmgren, Dawn Mervyn, Carl Powers, Rachel Smith
Fond Du Lac
Dakota Streck
Green Bay
Miranda Seitz
Howards Grove
Charles Strauss
Kiel
Lauren Molloy
Manitowoc
LaQuanda Bailey, Ayeng Her, Miranda Kiel, Christopher Koller, Jessica Kraemer, Carly Moulton, Kathryn Pierce, Tina Plansky, Tammy Seiler, Stacy Wagner, Emily Walters, James Worley and Amy Zander
Oostburg
Erin Becker
Plymouth
Amy Dougherty, Dena Watson, Sarah Woelfel
Sheboygan
Alexi Allison-Neuaone, Betsie Anderson, Cora Bollwahn, Emile Doro, Curtis Gabrielse, Melissa Kempka, Alissa Kessler, Chanise Kohls-Bruggink, Kailya Nachtwey, Denise Paul, Bruno Silva, Thaina Simoes Da Silva, Tina Urbina, Andrew VerGowe, Tony Wiltzius, Crystal Wright, Mai See Xiong and Mai Moua Yang
Sheboygan Falls
Peter Ladwig, Christina Weinand
Two Rivers
Atiq Khan, Blake Schermetzler, Lydia Soodsma, Renee Wizner
Valders
James Stanzel
Waldo
Cassondra Meyer, Connie Richgruber
West Bend
Megan Jenz, Laurin Otten
“Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is a way for us to honor students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement,” said Mary Kultgen, LTC Instructor and PTK Advisor. “In addition to the recognition, PTK offers students many scholarship opportunities, as well as opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to the betterment of their communities.”
The new PTK inductees were asked to select an LTC staff or faculty member who was influential in helping achieve their educational goals and lifelong dreams. The following recipients were honored at the 2016 PTK Spring Induction Ceremony: Rufina Garay, Associate Dean of Culinary and Hospitality; Tammie Stahl, Student Recruitment/Activities Specialist; Nancy Carman, Health Information Management Instructor; Nathan Meinnert, Assistant Restaurant Manager; Rivi Hatt, Student Support Services Director; Traci Rabe, Early Childhood Education Instructional Assistant; Lynn Owen, Health Unit Coordinator Instructional Assistant; Kathi McNellis, Psychology Instructor and Michael Reisenauer, Marketing Instructor.
PTK Advisors are Sue Kinneston, LTC Testing Services Manager and Mary Kultgen, LTC Instructor.
About Lakeshore Technical College
Each year more than 10,000 people enroll in courses at Lakeshore Technical College. They rely on LTC for job preparation, to earn a degree, upgrade a specialized skill, train as an apprentice, or seek a high school equivalency. LTC faculty and staff meet students where they are in life and help them get one step closer to achieving their goals.
LTC is a nationally recognized technical college. The college was ranked the #2 two-year college in the nation for adult learners by Washington Monthly, the #17 trade school in the nation by Forbes, #11 in the nation for two-year college educational outcomes by WalletHub.com, a top 150 two-year college for the fifth consecutive time by the Aspen Institute, and a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist for two consecutive years.
Approximately 800 students graduate from LTC each year, and LTC’s associate degree graduates earn a median salary of $47,800* per year. In addition to the Cleveland campus, LTC serves students in Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and offers classes at additional sites throughout the district. Visit LTC at gotoltc.edu.
*Source: 2019 LTC Graduate Outcomes report, 795 graduates contacted to complete the survey; 508 graduates or 64% completed the survey.
Copyright 2017
Lakeshore Technical College
1290 North Avenue
Cleveland, WI 53015
1.888.GO.TO.LTC
920.693.1000 TTY 711