Inspiration - Oakland Community College

10
PTK Students Are My Inspiration
Like the chicken and the egg, sometimes it is hard
to discern whether inspiration comes through
action, action through inspiration, or if the two
create a continuum with one person’s or group’s
actions leading to others being inspired to act,
thereby inspiring others to further action, and
so on.
now in her fourth year as adviser to the Phi Theta
Kappa (PTK) chapter on the Royal Oak and
Southfield campuses, Jan Akehurst said that the
students are a constant inspiration to her. An honor
society for two-year colleges, PTK emphasizes the
values of fellowship, leadership, scholarship and
service in a student’s life. Many of the chapter
members have full-time jobs in addition to their
classes, have family obligations and, she laughed,
“A life to live.” Yet they find time for numerous
service activities including building homes with
Habitat for Humanity, bell-ringing for the Salvation
Army, or participating in the Auction for a cure,
Relay for Life and Light the night fund-raisers.
Jan says, “You make time for those things that
are important. I see these students making time
to be supportive of each other, to participate in
service projects, and still maintain the academic
excellence required to be invited into PTK. I am
passionate about PTK. One way to show it was
to fund a scholarship for the student members of
PTK. I admire and am inspired by their ability to
balance their priorities.”
The Alpha Omicron Psi Scholarship established
by Jan and her husband is awarded to two
members of the Royal Oak/Southfield chapter of
Phi Theta Kappa each semester. She has seen this
award allow a student to take one extra class to
graduate earlier and be able to concentrate fully
on his career. For another, the scholarship covered
textbooks for classes. But Jan said, “I’m happy just
to be able to reward them for their hard work.”
One such student is Laura Manley, a 2006 Occ
graduate, and immediate past-president of the
Royal Oak/Southfield PTK chapter. Laura now
works full time at Marygrove college, where
she is also completing requirements for her
Bachelors degree in Library Science. An eighth
grade dropout, Laura earned her gED before
attending Occ, and credits Jan for her success
and confidence that she can now handle anything.
Laura stated, “Jan’s enthusiasm, excitement and
willingness to go above and beyond the call of
duty motivated us to build the PTK chapter from
almost nothing to its current membership of
122. She was an inspiration to us, attending our
events, often taking personal days to do so. Jan
was totally selfless with all of us.”
Jan Akehurst is an Administrative Specialist
for Academic and Student Services, for the Royal
Oak/Southfield campuses.
“I am passionate about PTK and one way to show
it was to fund a scholarship for the student
members of PTK.”