Hallmark Awards
The Hallmark Awards, based on competitively-judged applications, recognize individuals, chapters and regions for excellence in the Society's Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship as exemplified through Honors in Action activities. The annual competition is open to all active Phi Theta Kappa chapters.
Definition of Honors in Action:- Honors in Action projects incorporate each of Phi Theta Kappa’s four Hallmarks:
- Scholarship,
- Leadership,
- Service, and
- Fellowship.
Honors in Action projects require substantive investigation of issues related to the Society’s Honors Study Topic to provide direction and supporting evidence as members and chapters develop goals and activities. Based on that evidence, Honors in Action projects require taking the initiative and using or developing significant leadership abilities to make a positive difference through service. The current Phi Theta Kappa Honors Program Guide is a primary resource for developing and implementing Honors in Action Projects.
View the Judging Rubrics for each Award
| Chapter Awards | Member Awards | Advisor Awards |
| Administrator Awards | Regional Awards | Alumni Awards |
Honors in Action Project Awards
College Project AwardsChapters may submit one entry which describes one in-depth Honors in Action Project based on an issue of the current Honors Study Topic. The top 50 entries AND as many as 3 entries in each of the 10 issues from the Honors Program Guide will be selected for a maximum total of 80 Honors in Action Awards.
The Distinguished Chapter AwardsChapters may submit one entry featuring their College Project, described in Level Three of the Five Star Chapter Development Plan. The purpose of the College Project is to establish a supportive relationship between the chapter and the college administration. The chapter should meet with the college president (or other appropriate administrator) to determine the College Project, which can be anything that supports the college’s mission. As many as 25 chapters may receive the College Project Award.
The Beta Alpha Continued Excellence AwardsTo be considered for a Distinguished Chapter Award, a chapter must submit entries for both the Honors in Action Project and College Project Award. Selection of the Distinguished Chapters will be based solely on the written entries for these Hallmark Awards. The scores in each of the two Hallmark categories mentioned above will be averaged to determine a chapter's overall ranking. Individual award entries, such as Distinguished Chapter Officer, Distinguished Advisor, etc., are not taken into account for the purposes of this award. Chapters should not submit separate specific entries for the Distinguished Chapter Awards, since only the stated materials will be considered in the selection process. As many as 25 chapters may be named Distinguished Chapters.
[Return to Top]This award was named for the Beta Alpha Chapter, Blinn College, Brenham, Texas. If a chapter is named a Distinguished Chapter three years consecutively, the chapter will be presented the Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award. Again, these awards are obtained from averaging a chapter's scores in Honors in Action and the College Project. Chapters should not submit formal entries for this award. A chapter receiving the Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award in 2010 is eligible to receive the Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award in 2011 as well.
Member Awards
The Distinguished Chapter Officer Team AwardsThe Distinguished Chapter Officer AwardsA chapter advisor may nominate their entire chapter officer team for this award. The officers should demonstrate an exceptional atmosphere of teamwork, leadership abilities, promotion of Honors in Action and other engagement in the Society, and enthusiasm for the Society’s Hallmarks.
The Distinguished Member AwardsDistinguished Chapter Officers are selected based on the recipients' demonstration of leadership, promotion of Honors in Action and other engagement in the Society, and enthusiasm for the Society’s Hallmarks. International Officers are not eligible for this award during their year of tenure. The chapter may nominate up to two individual officers for this category, including a chapter president. However, team leaders or committee chairpersons may not be nominated for this award. A student may receive this award only once.
[Return to Top]The Distinguished Members are selected based on a student's embodiment of the Hallmarks of the Society through Honors in Action and other chapter activities. Members holding elected office at the chapter, regional, or international levels are ineligible for this award. Team leaders or committee chairpersons may be nominated for this award, if their leadership position is by appointment not election. A student may receive this award only once.
Advisor Awards
The Paragon Awards for New AdvisorsThe Distinguished Advisor AwardsAdvisors with less than four years of service may be nominated for the Paragon Award. Years of service will be based upon the advisor's start date reported to Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters. Award-winning advisors are those who make significant contributions to the growth of the individual members, serve as the chapter's advocate on campus, and encourage the chapter to be involved on the local, regional and/or international level of the organization. An advisor may receive this award only once.
Continued Excellence Award for AdvisorsThe criteria are the same as the Paragon Award with the exception that advisors must have served at least four years or more to be nominated for this award. Years of service will be based upon the advisor's start date reported to Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters. An advisor may receive this award only once.
[Return to Top]The criteria are the same as the Paragon and Distinguished Advisor Award with the exception that advisors must have already received the Distinguished Advisor Award. Advisors are eligible for this award every other year.
Administrator Awards
The Distinguished Administrator AwardsThe Shirley B. Gordon Awards of DistinctionThe Distinguished Administrator Awards will be awarded to community college vice presidents, deans, or leaders other than college presidents/CEOs serving a community college in an administrative capacity. Nominees should have served in their position for at least two years as of the Annual Convention, and should have demonstrated during their tenure a strong level of support for the Society. Awards will be presented at the Annual Convention to recipients who choose to attend, but may also be sent directly to the advisor of the nominating chapter for presentation during an appropriate occasion. Up to 25 Distinguished Administrator Awards may be presented each year. A college administrator may receive this award only once.
The Distinguished State Community College Director AwardsCollege presidents and campus CEOs are selected for this award on the basis of outstanding efforts given toward promoting the goals of Phi Theta Kappa. Applications cite specific ways the president has demonstrated support for the chapter and the Society as a whole. The recipients must agree to attend the Annual Convention to receive their award. As many as 25 Gordon Awards may be presented annually. A college president or campus CEO may receive this award only once.
The Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement AwardsThe Distinguished State Community College Director Awards will recognize the contributions of heads of state community college systems. Entries for this award will demonstrate the State Community College Director's support of Phi Theta Kappa throughout his/her state during his/her term of service. Entries may be submitted by a chapter, chapter advisor or Regional Coordinator. The recipients must agree to attend the Annual Convention to receive their award. An unlimited number of these awards may be presented. A State Community College Director may receive this award only once.
[Return to Top]The Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to college presidents, campus CEOs at two-year or senior institutions, and state community college directors who have been supportive of Phi Theta Kappa, and are retiring from their careers. Recipients are not required to attend the Annual Convention. Bennett Awards will be presented at the Convention to recipients who choose to attend, but the award may also be sent directly to the advisor of the nominating chapter for presentation during an appropriate occasion. An unlimited number of these awards may be given.
Regional Awards
Distinguished Regional Coordinator AwardsThe Distinguished Region AwardsDistinguished Regional Coordinators are selected by the Society's executive staff.
Selection will be based on coordinators': (1) encouragement, fellowship and continuity provided to chapters within the region; (2) assistance provided in planning and implementing regional meetings; (3) facilitation of attendance at international meetings by chapters in their region; (4) orientation, motivation and direction provided to chapter advisors and regional officers.
Each recipient must have served the Society as a coordinator for a minimum of five years. As many as three recipients may be named each year. A Distinguished Regional Coordinator may be eligible again for the award after 10 years.
The Regional Milestone AwardsThe Distinguished Region Awards recognize achievements of regions in many areas of programming and organizational structure. Selection is based on the quality of regional programming, especially the leadership and/or Honors in Action conference, regional convention. Consideration is also given to the overall strength of chapters in each region and the quantity and quality of chapter participation in Society's programming, such as the Five Star Chapter Development Plan and Hallmark Awards. As many as three awards may be given in this category.
The Distinguished Regional Officer AwardsThe Regional Milestone Awards will be offered in years when appropriate and may be given to as many as three regions. This award recognizes renewed enthusiasm among existing regions and superior achievements of newly organized regions. The award is based on quality of regional programming and other supporting evidence.
The Distinguished Regional Officer Team AwardsNominations for the Distinguished Regional Officers must come from Regional Coordinators. Nomination materials are sent directly to all Regional Coordinators. As many as 10 regional officers may be named.
[Return to Top]Regional Coordinators may also nominate their entire regional officer team for the Distinguished Regional Officer Team Award. As many as three regional officer teams may be recognized each year.
Alumni Awards
Alumni Association Award of Merit[Return to Top]The Alumni Association Award of Merit recognizes an alumni association which has been exemplary in meeting the mission of Phi Theta Kappa's International Alumni Association. Selection is based on a nomination that states the association’s goals and objectives for the year and how these objectives were met. When merited, a regional association, a senior institution-based association and a community-based association will each be recognized as finalists for the Award of Merit. These associations will be recognized during the Annual Convention.
