Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) President Rob Denson (right) receives congratulations for being named the recipient of the 2007 Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction from the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society by PTK Executive Director Rod Risley (left) and former Vice President Al Gore. Gore was the keynote speaker at the recent PTK International Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee.

DMACC President Receives Prestigious Award
Posted 05/15/07

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) President Rob Denson has received a prestigious award from the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society.

Denson received the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction at the 89th Annual PTK International Convention recently held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction is awarded to a college president or campus Chief Executive Officer who has made outstanding efforts toward promoting the goals of Phi Theta Kappa. The Shirley B. Gordon Award is named for the President Emeritus of Highland Community College, now serving as chairman of the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors.

DMACC President Denson personally assisted PTK in January of 2006. Denson drove the DMACC semi-truck from Des Moines to St. Paul to deliver 18,000 textbooks the Iowa Region of PTK had collected in support of a project called, “Pages of Promise.” The textbooks were shipped to African colleges whose supplies range from meager to non-existent.

Thanks to Denson’s generosity and PTK’s involvement, Pages of Promise was able to collect and transport a record number of textbooks, which are now being used by school children in Africa.

Denson was also cited for his involvement in other PTK activities. Denson supports the chapter by ensuring funding for chapter advisers and members to attend PTK programs and meetings. He signs letters of invitation to eligible students and attends all PTK induction ceremonies at all six DMACC campuses. He nominates students for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program, all-USA Academic Team and the Coca-Cola Two-Year Scholarship Program. He also encourages universities to increase their scholarship support for transferring members of Phi Theta Kappa.

Denson was presented the award by PTK Executive Director Rod Risley.
“We are pleased to recognize Dr. Rob Denson for his outstanding support of Phi Theta Kappa,” said Risley. “His efforts on behalf of the Des Moines Area Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and of our regional and international programs, have provided opportunities for excellence for numerous students and faculty members. The Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction acknowledges these individuals who exemplify the very best in college administrators who are student focused.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the oldest and largest honor society serving two-year and community colleges in the United States, Canada, Germany, U.S. territorial possessions, the British Virgin Islands and the Republic of Palau. Nearly 100,000 students are inducted annually in the Society’s 1,200 chapters.

DMACC is committed to educating, training and encouraging success for students of all ages. DMACC is Iowa’s largest community college, annually serving nearly 28,000 students enrolled in credit classes and more than 32,000 students in
non-credit programs on six campuses and many other locations across Central Iowa.

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