DEPTFORD TWP. — Pattie Van Atter, a former graduate of Gloucester County College (now Rowan College at Gloucester County), has been selected to serve on the Phi Theta Kappa board of directors as of Aug. 1. Van Atter was first inducted into the Alpha Psi Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Gloucester County College (GCC) in 1998. During her...
DEPTFORD TWP. -- Pattie Van Atter, a former graduate of Gloucester County College (now Rowan College at Gloucester County), has been selected to serve on the Phi Theta Kappa board of directors as of Aug. 1.
Van Atter was first inducted into the Alpha Psi Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Gloucester County College (GCC) in 1998. During her time at GCC, she served as a chapter officer and was also a member of the All-New Jersey Academic Team. Not only was Van Atter an active member of the society, but she also won the College's President's Medallion for Service and Leadership.
Van Atter's success with Phi Theta Kappa did not end with her time at GCC. After graduating, she was awarded a Phi Theta Kappa scholarship, which she used to further her success and continue her studies. Van Atter transferred to Temple University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood, special education and elementary education.
As a charter member of the Middle States Regional Alumni Association, Van Atter served as president in 2003-2004. She was then elected to the society's Alumni Advisory Council for a short, one-year term; however, the CEO of Phi Theta Kappa decided to appoint her to a three-year term, which led to being named the Middle States regional coordinator.
In 2013, after being named coordinator of instructional support services at the Wilmington campus of Delaware Tech & Community College, Van Atter was chosen as Phi Theta Kappa's Board of Director's Alumni Achievement Award winner for her continuous hard work and support for the society. Now, after years of being a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Van Atter has been chosen to serve on the society's board of directors.
The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses. More than 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 134,000 students inducted annually.
In spring 2015, Rowan College at Gloucester County inducted 158 students into the Alpha Psi Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. The Honor Society recognizes students who are committed to their studies and work hard to maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher.
"My Phi Theta Kappa experience at Gloucester County College empowered me to change life-consequences into life-opportunities," Van Atter said. "There's no better place than GCC to have started my journey and I encourage the students to empower themselves by engaging in the college and the society." Van Atter acknowledges that her experiences with Phi Theta Kappa were "truly a life changing experience."
Rowan College at Gloucester County is located at 1400 Tanyard Road in Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.
