Honor Society Advisor Recognized for Service

Tamara Frank-Pourvady, coordinator of the Tutoring Center at Edgecombe Community College, recently received a 20-year pin from ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod for her longstanding service as advisor to the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapter.

Tamara Frank-Pourvady, longtime advisor to Edgecombe Community College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, was recognized recently for her 20-year service to the organization.

Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society for students attending two-year schools. ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod presented Frank-Pourvady with a 20-year pin from the international organization.

Frank-Pourvady is coordinator of the Tutoring Center at the College.

According to a letter from the PTK national office, “Advisors are truly the lifeblood of our organization, and we are delighted to recognize them for their years of service.”

“Ms. Frank-Pourvady is the longest serving advisor to any student organization at Edgecombe Community College and also in the history of the College,” says Michael Jordan, vice president of student services. “Her dedicated service is in large part responsible for the success of ECC’s chapter, Alpha Omega Nu.”

Alpha Omega Nu has been a Five-Star chapter since 1996 and a Carolinas Super Star chapter since this award was established in 2000. Typically, only about sixteen chapters in the two-state Carolinas Region achieve Five-Star and Super Star designation.

The chapter, which numbers about 50 members in any given semester, is among the College’s most active student organizations. Members carry out a number of service projects each year, including Adopt-A-Highway cleanups, Edgecombe County’s Relay for Life, textbook recycling drives, and canned food drives.

Frank-Pourvady credits students as her motivation to continue in her leadership role with the organization. “It’s the people,” she says. “The one thing they all have in common is persistence, which is the one quality students must have if they’re going to finish school.

“They also have many other admirable qualities, and it’s been very meaningful to work with them over the years.”