Local Phi Theta Kappa members win scholarships

Two members of the Citrus College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society have been awarded $5000 scholarships.

Gabrielle Lamarche, 20, and Yamato Kaneko, 22, have been selected, as scholarship winners, provided they comply with the Guistwhite scholarship guidelines.

The Guistwhite scholarship was established in 1992 by Jack Guistwhite, Ph.D., and his wife Margaret.

They helped to develop the first transfer scholarship made exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members.

Guistwhite scholars are chosen based on academic achievement, service to their college and communities, and participation in Phi Theta Kappa.

In order for recipients to receive their scholarships, they must transfer to a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree granting senior institution and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

This year, out of more than 1,340 students from multiple community colleges, 20 members made the cut to receive $5,000 checks, along with certificates and medallions.

The Citrus recipients were honored at a luncheon in Sacramento on March 21.

Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society designed especially for community college students who wish to transfer after two years of attendance.

To join Phi Theta Kappa a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The average Phi Theta Kappa member is 28 years old, and maintains this GPA.

It costs $80 for a lifetime membership that opens the door for a multitude of scholarships including but not limited to the Guistwhite scholarship, the Coca Cola Leaders of Promise scholarship and GEICO business student scholarship.

Students must be invited to join by the chapter at the college where they are enrolled and complete at least 12 hours of coursework that may be applied to an associate degree.

The mission of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students, and to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service, and fellowship programming."  

Gabrielle Lamarche, 20, of Chino, Calif. is double majoring in the area of behavioral and social science, and medicine.

She was  honored as a Third Team All-American Team Scholar.

She plans to transfer to a UC in fall of 2012. She is currently vice president of leadership in PTK and is a chapter delegate of Psi Beta, an honor society for psychology students.

Yamato Kaneko, 22, is originally from Tokyo, Japan. He has been a resident of the United States since 2008 and has been attending Citrus for six semesters.

He is double majoring in audio recording and business administration. He plans to transfer to UCLA to study business and economics. His goal is to start a business in the entertainment industry here in Los Angeles.

He was also honored as a First Team All-California Academic Team Scholar.

"Fortunately all of my family members and friends survived from the direct hit of the earthquake and tsunami, but everyone is still suffering devastating damage and living under fear of the nuclear power plant disaster," Kaneko said.

Phi Theta Kappa is organizing a fundraising event in the near future. For more information on the upcoming fundraiser please contact Phi Theta Kappa at citrusptk@gmail.com.