Randolph Community College welcomed students, advisors, and guests from North and South Carolina during the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Institute held June 26 – 28, 2026. The three-day event brought together 82 attendees from 13 different schools, along with 16 alumni volunteers, to explore this year’s Honors Study Topic “What’s Next: Imagining the Future,” under the theme “Ignite Curiosity, Inspire Action.”
The Honors Institute is one of Phi Theta Kappa’s immersive educational experiences that provides members with the opportunity to explore the annual Honors Study Topic through in-depth learning and collaboration. Over the weekend, attendees took part in presentations, group discussions, and interactive projects that challenged them to think critically, exchange perspectives, and develop solutions to real-world issues while simultaneously strengthening their leadership skills.
Putting those ideas together, participating members spent much of their time working on mock Honors in Action Projects. While working in small groups, with people they may not have met before, they designed community-centered service projects inspired by this year’s Honors Study Topic. The participants' minds were challenged to not only discuss the futures of their communities, but also to imagine and decide how they could shape them. Each of the eight groups developed a research focused project designed to address a need within their community. They worked together to identify possible challenges, evaluate potential solutions, and present innovative ideas.
The weekend combined academics with creative expression through Honors in Action projects, debate, Readers Theatre, and a talent showcase that gave members the opportunity to share vulnerable sides of themselves and have fun with one another, while reflecting Phi Theta Kappa’s commitment to developing well-rounded student leaders.
On Friday, June 26, 2026, volunteers from the host school Randolph Community College, along with cohost schools, Stanly Community College and Central Carolina Community College, spent the morning helping Dr. Heather Eddy, Phi Theta Kappa Carolinas Region Regional Coordinator; Jennifer Fox, Assistant Regional Coordinator, and Alpha Omega Carolinas Alumni Association in preparing the facilities and workspaces for the event.
Student volunteers aided with registration, directed attendees throughout the building in use, and helped ensure the weekend began smoothly. Dr. Lisa Johnson, Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development at RCC; Dr. Lisa Carlson, Vice President of Student Success at RCC; and Clark Adams, Phi Theta Kappa advisor at RCC, welcomed members and gave opening remarks before Dr. Heather Eddy introduced the weekend’s schedule and objectives, while she encouraged students to engage with the Honors Institute experience.
As first-time hosts of the Carolinas Region Honors Institute, Randolph Community College’s faculty, staff, and advisors played an essential role in the weekend’s success. Leading up to the event, volunteers assembled participant materials, prepared meeting spaces, and planned thoughtfully. From greeting attendees at registration, to answering questions, directing guests, creating directional signage, coordinating registration, welcoming guests from across the Carolinas, and working behind the scenes, Randolph Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter officers helped to create a welcoming atmosphere on their campus that left an impression on participants across the Carolinas, showing their enthusiasm and willingness to help.
Saturday, June 27th, focused heavily on learning and collaboration. Participants attended interactive workshops, worked alongside peers from different colleges, and continued developing their Honors in Action projects through team meetings. A memorable presentation from students from Surry Community College, illustrating the importance of communication and teamwork, challenged the attendees to see collaboration differently before continuing their work.
As the day turned into the evening, attendees gathered for the Readers Theatre and student talent showcase. This is where students and advisors celebrated creativity and fun while strengthening connections with each other. After the performances, Honors in Action teams reconvened to continue refining their research and ideas. Between the events of the weekend, members shared meals, exchanged ideas, and built friendships that continued past the scheduled programming, with many deciding to work together into the night as they prepared for the following day’s presentation of their projects.
On the final day, Sunday, June 28th, each Honors in Action team presented their completed projects before judges and attendees, while displaying the research, collaborative ideas, and creativity they had strengthened throughout the weekend. Participants also gathered for the debate, respectfully examining the question of whether community service should become a requirement for high school and higher education students or not. The debate encouraged thoughtful civic dialogue while allowing students to develop and defend evidence-based perspectives on an issue affecting communities everywhere.
The weekend concluded with scholarship announcements, recognition of student achievements, and awards celebrating excellence throughout the weekend, with Randolph Community college personally celebrating the accomplishments of its own chapter's officers and advisors during the event. As participants returned to their home campuses, they carried with them innovative ideas, lasting friendships, and renewed inspiration to serve their colleges and community. The absolute success of this year’s Honors Institute reflected the collaborative spirit of Phi Theta Kappa’s dedication to student achievement.
Following the events of the weekend, Carolinas Regional Coordinator Dr. Heather Eddy praised Randolph Community College for its outstanding hospitality and professionalism, commending the faculty, staff, advisors, and Phi Theta Kappa student officer team whose dedication ensured that every guest felt welcome throughout the weekend. She noted that the event exemplified Phi Theta Kappa’s hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship, while emphasizing a message she shared with participants throughout the event: to strive for excellence rather than perfection, explaining that perfection is an unrealistic goal, while excellence was already on full display all weekend.
Although the Honors Institute concluded that Sunday afternoon, its impact continues well beyond the events of the June 26th-28th weekend. Members returned to their campuses inspired to apply what they had learned through scholarship, fellowship, service, and leadership, while strengthening their own Phi Theta Kappa chapters. For Randolph Community College, successfully hosting the 2026 Carolinas Region Phi Theta Kappa Honors Institute not only displayed the ability to bring together student leaders from across two states but also commitment to academic excellence, collaboration, and community engagement.
Randolph Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter extends its sincere gratitude to Regional Coordinator Dr. Heather Eddy, co-host institutions, advisors, alumni, volunteers, presenters, and every participant whose dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm made this year’s Honors Institute a memorable success for both our campus, and our Phi Theta Kappa chapter.