Warren County Community College’s Dr. Will Austin is among a select group of college presidents from around the country who will be honored by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society this spring.

Dr. Austin will be presented with the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction at Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention in April in Kansas City, which will also be the organization’s Centennial Celebration. Over 5000 students are expected to attend the event. Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders.

The award honors college presidents who have demonstrated outstanding efforts toward promoting the goals of PTK. The award is named in honor of the late Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, longtime chair of the PTK Board of Directors and president emeritus of Highline College in Washington. Honorees are nominated by PTK students.

“We were very happy to learn that Dr. Austin will be receiving the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction,” said Dorothy Helmken, President of WCCC’s PTK chapter. “Our chapter has been very active and successful, and obtained Five Star status this year.  We submitted the nomination because we wanted to acknowledge Dr. Austin’s contributions to our chapter and our overall success.  We are very excited for him.”

WCCC is one of nearly 1,300 chapters in nine nations, with more than 3.5 million individual members overall.

Dr. Austin has been the president of WCCC for 13 years.  In the past three years, Dr. Austin has now been recognized with awards from three major national organizations.  This one, however, is particularly special to Dr. Austin as he was nominated by the Phi Theta Kappa members of WCCC.

“Being recognized by the students here makes this very humbling,” said Dr. Austin. “It feels really good. It’s what being a president is all about, really. Working with – and for – students. At WCCC, we are very lucky to have an outstanding PTK advisor in Jean Vasko. She has done a great job of leading our PTK chapter at the College to higher levels.”

“We have so many excellent chapter officers and members who are making a difference,” added Vasko. “With Dr. Austin’s support we have been able to make great strides.”

“Dr. Austin’s nomination and selection for this award is a recognition that his Phi Theta Kappa students have his support,” noted Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of the national Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. “We congratulate Dr. Austin on being recognized by his very own students.”

This national award comes on the heels of two others  for Dr. Austin. Three years ago he received the AAUA (American Association of University Administrators) McInnis/Ryan Award for his achievement in Mid-Career Higher Education Leadership and last year he earned the Association of Community College Trustees’ (ACCT) Northeast Regional Chief Executive Officer Award.