One hundred and forty-two Meridian Community College students were selected for membership in the Nu Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the world’s largest international academic honor society for community and junior college students.

To become a member of Phi Theta Kappa, students must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework and have a grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Explaining to the newly-named PTK members that joining PTK means a host of things, “It also tells me you’re curious and open to new challenges and experiences,” said Dr. Ellen Weinauer, dean of the honors college at the University of Southern Mississippi, as she spoke to the McCain Theater audience during Tuesday’s membership celebration. “I want to encourage you to stay open and stay curious.

“Because you’ve been invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, I know you’ve proven you’re up to new challenges to be hungry for new opportunities and experiences. I simply encourage you to remain so,” she added.

MCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner in presenting closing remarks said academic success doesn’t have an age, gender or color. Addressing the new members, he said, “It’s you. It’s hard work – it’s setting goals and working toward those goals. It’s making decisions and being persistent, insisting that you’re going to get there – wherever there is. Here at Meridian Community College, we’re proud of you; where you’ve been, where you are right now,” he said.

The ceremony combined both fall and spring inductees.

Named as fall inductees were: Ereia Alexander, Mary Arteaga, Makenzie Barham, Brittany Barnhardt, April Bonner, Jackson Bridges, Stephanie Busby, Sophia Calderon, Shakira Campbell, Abigail Carraway, Jaley Culpepper, Jennifer Deen, Kamaria Dove, Khadija Easley, Trinity Glover, Kristen Henderson, Jada Hiatt, Ileah Higginbotham, Hunter Howell, Jonah James, Madison Keller, Tyler Lacy, Jesse Lang, Rachel McCollough, Santrelle McGlothin, Logan Nave, Jonah Null, Shelena Pace, Angela Pederson, Christopher Pitts, Cooper Pope, Alisia Powell, Ana Primeaux, Shakira Ridgeway, Victoria Rigdon, Danielle Spears, Bailey Wetzstein and John Williams.

Spring inductees included: Jason Alexander, Tyler Alexander, Andres Alonso, Kayla Alston, Morgan Ashcraft, Tucker Atkinson, Emily Banes, Anna-Grace Banks, Rayia Bilello, Blair Black, Thomas Blalock, Cade Boes, Tykira Bouldin, Alyssa Branyan, Brigida Brooks, Zoe Brooks, Sara Brown, Justin Bryan, Elizabeth Carlson, Brian Cockrell, Hayden Cokel, Leviya Cole, Joshua Collum, Jolie Culpepper, Victoria Culpepper, Summer Dancy, Maiya Davis, Princess Dawkins, Catherine Dean, Makenna Deavers, Michael Dunn, Gina Duvalle, Margret Edwards, Adrian Evans, Andrea Evans, Corey Evans, Gwendolyn Fikes, KayLynn Fortner, Savannah Gonzalez, Brice Gordon, Laura Griffith, Rodric Griffith, Joshua Hamilton, Emily Harrison, Alexis Hart, Katlin Hightower, Mckenzie Holifield, Gary Huffmaster, Madisyn Hults, Baily Hunter, Natalie Jadzinski, Saia Jennings, Alexa Johnson, Corey Jones, Gabriel Jones, Alanna Lewis, Reese Little, Adrian Lockwood, Kiera Long, William Majure, Bonnie May, Joseph May, Trey McClinton, Ryan McDonald, Cameron McKee, Chastity McKee, Matthew McNeill, Hannah McPherson, Courtney Meadows, Steven Miller, Kimberly Mislang, Ben Moore, Katilyn Mowdy, Jaelynn Palmer, Mack Pickering, Journi Porter, Jalen Portis, Brinnon Powell, Britney Rawson, Abigail Roberts, Makayla Roberts, Kaymen Russell, Logan Sayers, Haley Scott, Mollie Shelton, Lauren Shuster, James Simpson, Don Smith III, Rita Smith, Briunna Spivey, Bryden Stewart, Francesca Strickland, Merton Sutton, Taliyah Tate, Madilyn Thompson, Hunter Torjusen, Alexander Turner, Casey Turner, Rachel VanHorn, Zachary Vinet, Anna Wagner, Patrice Walker, Amber Wascomb and Cloe Yelverton.