May 18, 2006
Minnaert receives prestigious Bennett Award
OLYMPIA, Washington – Dr. Kenneth J. Minnaert, president of South Puget Sound Community College, recently received the 2006 Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award from Phi Theta Kappa International, the honor society for two-year colleges.
The award recognizes Minnaert for his outstanding support of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter at South Puget Sound Community College and for his efforts to promote the honor society in the state of Washington. He received the award at PTK's recent International Convention in Seattle.
Minnaert was credited for his support of the college's PTK chapter's services activities, his integral role in bringing the All-Washington Academic Team ceremony to the college's campus for the last six years, his efforts to build scholarship offerings for All-Washington team members.
The Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award is named for a past president of St. Petersburg Junior College. The award is presented to retiring college administrators for exemplary services rendered to Phi Theta Kappa during the course of their academic career.
Minnaert, who retires in June, has led Olympia's South Puget Sound Community College as its president since 1980, making him the longest serving college president in the state of Washington.