Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Phi Theta Kappa Spring 2019 inductees from left are Jasmine Hernandez, Ryan Price, Cambry Dudley-Lujan, Tyler Fanska, Tamara Claudio, Tony Ponce, Cassy Leodolff and Frank Beltran (not pictured).
Mesalands Community College recently held a spring formal induction ceremony for students in the Beta Eta Omega Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society.
PTK is based on academic achievement and offers personal development through scholarship, service, fellowship and leadership.
Each candidate for membership in PTK must have completed 12 credit hours that leads to a declared major with a grade-point average of a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, enrolled in six credit hours and adhere to the school code. A cumulative GPA of 3.25 must be maintained to remain in good standing.
Mesalands' spring 2019 inductees to PTK were Frank Beltran, Tamara Claudio, Cambry Dudley-Lujan, Tyler Fanska, Jasmine Hernandez, Cassy Leodolff, Antonio Ponce and Ryan Price.
Robert Hockaday, president of Tucumcari Bio-Energy and Energy Related Devices Inc., was the guest speaker at the event. Hockaday provided science-related examples on how small changes can make a major impact. He talked about how bubble wrap was accidently developed in 1957. This small invention changed the shipping industry and is transforming renewable energy practices.
Hockaday explained how he uses sunlight and bubble wrap to keep 3 million gallons of organisms warm. These organisms process 32,000 tons of cattle manure per year that is used for carbon dioxide, methane, and organic fertilizer.
"Ultimately, securing our water supply, food supply, stabilizing the earth's temperature and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is necessary just to keep us, and our world, stable," Hockaday said.