Ozarks Tech PTK - Alpha Psi Tau

09/03/2026

🎉 PTK had an AMAZING day at Club Rush! 🎉

We are so thankful and excited for everyone who stopped by our table today! It was so much fun meeting new faces, sharing what PTK is all about, and connecting with our OTC community!

We hope to see even more of your smiling faces in the Honors Lounge! 😁 Come stop by, say hello, and make yourself at home!

📍 Honors Lounge
Springfield Campus — ICE Room 354

We can’t wait to see you there!

09/01/2026

✨ PTK ADVISOR SPOTLIGHT: MEET MARY HIGGINBOTHAM! ✨

Mary is an Admissions Counselor and PTK Advisor, but before helping students find their paths, she was a student creating her own.

Mary is a proud OTC alum and former PTK chapter officer. She graduated from Ozarks Tech in 2025 with her Associate of Arts in Behavioral Sciences, along with certificates in American Sign Language and Honors Studies.

Her journey continued in spring 2026, when she graduated from Missouri State University with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in human services.

As a mom of three who balanced college with work and family, Mary knows how much determination it takes to pursue your goals while managing everyday life.

That experience is a big part of why she loves helping students recognize their strengths, build confidence, and explore opportunities they might not have imagined for themselves. PTK was a big part of her own journey, and supporting students as an advisor makes that experience even more meaningful. 🌱

One of Mary’s favorite parts of advising PTK is seeing students grow as individuals and professionals.

One of her favorite PTK memories was traveling to Baltimore for PTK Catalyst 2025. ✈️ It was her first Catalyst as an advisor, and getting to watch her students experience the fellowship and massive pep-rally that is Catalyst for the very first time was extremely rewarding.

Now, Mary is looking forward to seeing what impact our chapter has on our college this year.

Our officer team is set up for success and is THRIVING, while also bringing awareness to other clubs and activities on campus. Mary is excited to see this create a “snowball effect” on our entire student population!

Outside of work, Mary enjoys reading, spending time with her kids, and a good audiobook on her commute.

And here’s a fun fact: Mary has 3 cats that are all LEASH trained!

Mary’s favorite quote from Maya Angelou says:

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Join us in celebrating Mary Higginbotham and everything she brings to our PTK community! 🎓✨

08/29/2026

Today was all about good food, great company, and celebrating together! 🧺☀️ We enjoyed a beautiful day outside with plenty of laughs, smiles, and fun memories.

But the biggest celebration was for our birthday bestie, Ozzy! 🎈🥳 We had a blast celebrating another year of Ozzy and making his special day one to remember! 🎂🎉

Happy Birthday, Ozzy! We hope your day was filled with all the fun and happiness you deserve! 🧡🎈

08/25/2026

🎒📚 First day of school is here! 🎉

New classes, new goals, and a whole lot of coffee! ☕😂 Here’s to a semester full of learning, memories, and good times. Let’s do this! 💪

Share your first day of school pictures in the comments and tell us how it went!!

08/18/2026

✨ Member Spotlight: Meet Amber Clemens! ✨

We’re excited to introduce you to Amber Clemens, a member of the Alpha Psi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa! 💙💛

Amber is currently studying toward her Associate’s degree in General Education at Ozarks Technical Community College, with plans to transfer to a four-year college. She’s looking forward to continuing her education and seeing where her academic journey takes her!

Amber joined PTK because of the experience and opportunities it provides. She knows that PTK does a lot of good for the community, and she wanted to be a part of that positive impact. Since Amber loves helping people, joining PTK felt like a natural choice. The scholarships and future opportunities that come with membership are an added bonus!

When she’s not busy with school or PTK, one of Amber’s favorite hobbies is something simple: walking her dog. She started walking him daily last year, and now she says she can’t stop! It has become a favorite part of her routine.

Amber also loves making things for other people. She enjoys creating with her hands through drawing, painting, crocheting, and more. For her, creating is a great way to wind down in the evenings while also making something she can eventually give as a gift to a friend or family member.

When it comes to movies, books, and TV shows, Amber has plenty of recommendations but narrowing them down is a challenge because she enjoys all three!

For a movie and book recommendation, Amber chose Project Hail Mary. She recently watched the movie with her younger sibling and fell in love with the story, characters, and practical effects used to create some of the movie’s most vibrant scenes.

For a little nostalgia, Amber recommends Disney Channel Original Movies from the 2000s. Having grown up watching Disney Channel, movies like Camp Rock, High School Musical, Descendants, and many others played a role in making her the person she is today.
For television, Amber recommends The Bear. She waited until some of the hype surrounding the show had settled before watching it, and she’s glad she did. What stood out most to her was the writing and how relatable the characters are. She also appreciates how some episodes and scenes can hold an audience’s attention in a single location.

As Amber puts it, if a show can keep you engaged through an entire episode filmed in an alleyway or an entire scene under a table, “then you deserve to be recognized.”

From her passion for helping others to her love of creativity, walking her dog, and discovering great stories, Amber brings her own unique personality and perspective to PTK.

We’re excited to have Amber as part of the PTK family and can’t wait to see where her journey takes her! 💙💛

✨ Thanks for being part of PTK, Amber! ✨

08/12/2026

✨ The U is officially open! 🎉

What an incredible day at Ozarks Tech as we celebrated the grand opening of the U!

The U is more than a new building, it’s a place for students to connect, create, relax, learn, and make memories throughout their college journey. From student organizations and campus resources to food, fitness, and spaces to hang out, there’s something for everyone.

Here’s to a new chapter of connection, community, and campus life at OTC! 🥳🎓

08/11/2026

✨ Chapter Officer Spotlight: Meet Ty Hayden! ✨

Hi everyone! I’m Ty Hayden, and I’m excited to serve as the VP of Virtual Promotions for the Alpha Psi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa! 💙💛

My PTK journey started during my second semester at OTC when I received an invitation to join. I didn’t really know what PTK was at the time, but I decided to join simply to gain knowledge and see what it was all about.

Now, I’m in my third semester of PTK, and I’ve learned so much, met new people, and built new relationships along the way. I’m also excited to use my position as VP of Virtual Promotions to become a voice in promoting all the fun and cool things that OTC and PTK has to offer!

One of my favorite PTK memories was attending Honors Institute. During one of the breakout sessions, we talked about the importance of unplugging. I was placed in a group with three other people, and we got to chat and get to know each other. The next day, I found out that two of the people I had been talking with were actually speakers who presented during one of the seminars! It was such an unexpected connection and a really cool PTK experience.

This year, I’m looking forward to building relationships with my team and making a difference any way that I can. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together!

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be simple: Be you. You will get as far as you want just by being yourself. Don’t change yourself to fit someone else’s narrative. If you belong, you will be accepted just by being yourself. 💙

And finally, the important question: Coffee or tea? ☕️🫖

Coffee is for sure the way to my heart. ❤️☕️

I’m excited for this year and everything that PTK has in store. I can’t wait to continue learning, meeting new people, building relationships, and helping showcase everything OTC and PTK has to offer!

08/11/2026

08/10/2026

✈️ Today was our LAST First Flight! 💙💛

As we wrap up our First Flight season, we want to take a moment to say thank you to Ozarks Tech for giving us the opportunity to connect with so many amazing new students!

First Flight has given us the chance to meet students where they are, introduce them to the opportunities available through Phi Theta Kappa and the Honors Program, and help them take those first exciting steps into their college journey. 🎓✨

We are incredibly grateful for the partnership and support that makes these connections possible. Here’s to all the new faces, new beginnings, and new opportunities ahead!

Thank you, OTC, for letting us be part of your First Flight experience! 💙✈️

08/06/2026

✨ Advisor Spotlight: Meet Dee Lancaster! ✨
Some of the best advisors are the ones who have walked the same path as the students they now serve—and that's exactly what makes Dee Lancaster such an incredible part of the PTK family.

As a proud graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College and an alumna of the Alpha Psi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Dee understands firsthand the opportunities PTK can provide. During her time as a student, she served as a Chapter Officer, Chapter Representative, and Regional Officer before transferring to Missouri State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Communication. Today, she's continuing her educational journey by pursuing a master's degree in Communication while serving as the Honors Coordinator at Ozarks Tech.

For Dee, the most rewarding part of advising PTK isn't just planning events or meetings—it's building relationships. She loves getting to know students, watching them grow into confident leaders, and seeing everything they accomplish both during their time at Ozarks Tech and long after graduation. Knowing that PTK has made a lifelong impact on its members is what makes every moment worthwhile.

One of Dee's favorite PTK memories takes her all the way to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society International Headquarters in Jackson. While serving as a Regional Officer, she had the opportunity to tour headquarters, find her chapter's commemorative PTK brick in the courtyard, and even sit in Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner's chair. And, of course, no trip would have been complete without introducing her fellow officers to one of the South's greatest traditions—the difference between Southern iced tea and Northern iced tea. If you know, you know. 🍹😉

As this new year begins, Dee is excited to watch this year's PTK officer team grow into confident student leaders and leave their own mark on the chapter.

A fun fact about Dee? She's called some incredible places home, having lived in the mountains, the desert, on the Pacific Coast, the Atlantic Coast, and along the Gulf Coast.

And if you ever need a little inspiration, Dee lives by one of her favorite quotes from Carrie Fisher:

"There is no point at which you can say, I am successful now, I might as well take a nap."

Thank you, Dee, for your dedication, mentorship, and the lasting impact you make on our PTK students every day! 💙💛