Central Arizona College Student Selected as International Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa
By Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing
Central Arizona College student Anna Maria Dennis was selected as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Vice President of Division IV. She will represent PTK and CAC as she travels across the country over the next year, visiting chapters and inspiring students from all backgrounds to step into leadership and further engage in PTK.
Dennis became a student at CAC in August 2021, majoring in business and communications. As a non-traditional student, she was looking for ways to become involved. She explains, “I first learned of PTK from my English professor, Dr. Heather Moulton when she invited our class to join an informational meeting. I began as a provisional member until I had the needed GPA to be a full member. Once I achieved that, I became an officer and went on to become an Arizona Regional officer.”
As a PTK member, Dennis has developed her leadership skills, made connections with students throughout the region and country, received scholarship opportunities and most of all, she gained a community. “The friendships I have made throughout my membership have been priceless,” said Dennis. “Some of my best friends have come from being in PTK. I am surrounded by people who genuinely care about seeing others succeed in school and life.”
Dennis credits Dr. Sandy Rath, Professor of Speech Communication and PTK Advisor for planting the seed to run for an international office. She indicated, “I felt that my time as a member of PTK was not quite over and that I still had much more to share with people.” She wanted to push herself to do more and go further while serving as an example for others, showing them that working hard can pay off and it is never too late to achieve one’s dreams.
When asked about her journey of running for an international office, Dennis stated, “It has been rewarding, exhilarating, humbling and out of this world. The best part has been meeting the people I’ve met along this journey. I love connecting with others, and I was okay with whatever the outcome was because I got to have conversations with people from all over the world, and you just cannot have a better experience than that.”
As the International Vice President of Division IV, Dennis will serve as an ambassador. This includes staying active in the CAC PTK chapter and participating in events and conferences. She will represent and advocate for PTK’s mission, collaborate with leaders to set goals and support chapters throughout the region by being a resource and spokesperson. Additionally, she will attend trainings, lead key PTK events and contribute to communications through social media and prepared articles. Dennis proclaimed, “To the best of my ability, I plan to represent Central Arizona College, the Arizona Region, and District IV with pride and humility.”
Dennis is currently taking online classes through Grand Canyon University, working towards a bachelor’s degree in human resources management. Her future career goal is to obtain a career in human resources where she can continue connecting with others and create an engaging work environment for everyone.