As an alumni of Mid-Plains Community College, I have enjoyed following the college and their various events via social media platforms for over a decade.

As someone with a passion for learning and achievement, I have enjoyed watching the Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony over the years via livestream. It is exciting and encouraging to watch students who display the academic excellence required to qualify for this honor society. Unfortunately, over the years I have noticed a disappointing trend that I feel needs to be addressed.

On Sunday, 3/29/26, I logged on to the livestream to watch this year’s PTK induction. Sadly, I was not able to follow along for the entirety of the ceremony as there was no sound. But, I did notice that there was no upper administration presence at this event. Over the past decade, administrative attendance at PTK inductions has been inconsistent at best and non-existent in many instances. Why? The students who are in PTK are the best and brightest on campus — they have to maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average to qualify.

If MPCC and its administrators are truly focused on education and student outcomes, wouldn’t this be a priority event for them to support? What message does it send to these students when they notice that administration can’t be bothered to attend? What message are they sending to family members and friends who log on to watch their respective students induction only to notice that there’s no upper administrative support?

My reasons for posing these questions publicly as opposed to a single private letter to the Board are two-fold. Firstly, I am hoping that PTK students — both present and past — will see this and know that their efforts are seen and appreciated. Secondly, I feel that the community should also be asking why administration would effectively snub its best students.

Via social media, I have seen both Ryan Purdy and Dr. Jody Tomanek show up, dressed to impress and all smiles for the camera whenever someone is writing a check or doling out some sort of personal accolades. Why can’t they extend that same courtesy to PTK? I’m a very busy small business owner who lives several states away, and if I can rearrange my schedule to accommodate this event, why on earth can’t these administrators do the same…especially since it’s their actual job?

If recognizing the highest performing students on campus is not a priority, perhaps they should seek employment that better aligns with their priorities and values to make way for someone who values what a higher education institution is supposed to be.

–Heather Munoz, Olivehurst, Calif.

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