The Community College of Denver (CCD) Alpha Mu Mu (AMM) Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter announced that their Honors in Action Hallmark Award entry, “Embedding Ethics: Information Literacy in a Digital Labyrinth,” was selected from among 434 entries to be included as one of 15 articles in the 2026 edition of Civic Scholar: Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Undergraduate Research.
This honor is the culmination of months of research and community service completed for the chapter’s “Honors in Action” project.
Months in the Making
Before Alpha Mu Mu was honored for their work, they’re research began as an investigation into "AI digital literacy" for PTK’s 2026 Honors Study Topic: “The Power of Stories.”
AI digital literacy, particularly as it relates to academic research, was a topic of key interest for PTK AMM. As the team worked on their project, they honed in on researching and developing the skills needed to effectively evaluate AI sources.
“Learning to compare [sources], to know if each one is credible, know where exactly it is coming from, what the background is, that kind of literacy...looking at a topic on the internet and then saying, ‘Okay, this is ethical to report out, to turn that information over again, to academicize it, to Include it in a report, cite it, so on and so forth” was the key focus of AMM’s Honors in Action work, per Brian Weaver, CCD Associate Professor and PTK AMM Faculty Advisor.
With months of research in hand, PTK turned towards the service aspect of “Honors in Action,” in the form of offering free workshops on developing AI literacy across the Auraria Campus and the City of Denver.
Ultimately, their work culminated in a showcase of their service and research at the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa Hallmark Awards Gala, where they were presented with an award for their outstanding work, and a published article in the 2026 edition of Civic Scholar.
What This Award Means for PTK & CCD
This is the first time PTK has been awarded and published since participating in the Honors in Action program.
As Weaver puts it, “This award tells us that [CCD] can run with the big dogs.”
For Weaver, the award is proof that high-level academic achievement is possible at CCD.
“In terms of research, scholarly projects, and undergraduate research, it tells us that we can academically excel and that success is possible. It's more than possible, it’s achievable, and the effort that it takes, the academic prowess, the commitment and all of those kinds of things [are possible] which is just such a beautiful and empowering message to send to our students.”
“No matter what walk of life [students] come from or wherever they are in their educational journey, what a great message that the spirit of the academic pursuit and academic curiosity is something that can be rewarded.”
More than that, in Weaver’s mind, the Award reinforces the work PTK AMM does, and the environment they cultivate for CCD students.
"PTK creates a home for people, for whom this kind of thing matters and jives and vibes and is important to. It creates a home in terms of fellowship...for like-minded students and like-minded true peers that think alike and want to achieve these things. For Students who really vibe with intellectual curiosity, that lifelong love of learning, that creativity, all of those things. There's a home for people like that in PTK, and it brings the opportunity to be intellectually stimulated in that way, and to be recognized in that way.”
To read CCD PTK Alpha Mu Mu’s entry into Civic Scholar, click here.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an international honor society that recognizes academic achievement among community college students. At Community College of Denver, PTK's Alpha Mu Mu chapter provides opportunities for leadership development, academic research, community service and participation in regional and national conferences. Eligible students with a minimum 3.5 GPA and 12 completed college credits can join PTK, gaining access to exclusive scholarships, competitive academic and leadership awards, and transfer scholarships at four-year institutions. Members also receive recognition at graduation and on their academic transcripts.
To learn more: Contact Brian Weaver, CCD associate professor of communication and PTK chapter advisor, at Brian.Weaver@ccd.edu or 303-352-3057.
For additional information, visit CCD's Phi Theta Kappa webpage.
