Phi Theta Kappa Is on a Mission to Solve the Mystery About Solving Mysteries

Kristen Drum

Contributing Writer

What is a mystery? It’s a puzzle, a riddle, something difficult to explain and shrouded by the unknown. It’s also something that calls out to be solved.

Students in Phi Theta Kappa at Spartanburg Methodist College are intent on learning how people approach solving mysteries and are using a recent grant to pursue their goal.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an international college honor society that promotes the development of professional and leadership skills. One of the many ways the international group does this is through the Honors in Action project. This year’s theme is “The Power of Stories.”

English professor Dr. Kristen Welch and business professor Dr. Maria Kithcart, the advisors of the SMC chapter of PTK, encouraged the students to participate in the program this year. After receiving a $1,000 grant from the national PTK organization, the group chose the project pathway, “How Perspective Shapes Stories,” specifically teasing out the question, how does one solve mysteries?

Catherine “C.J.” Hawkins, a sophomore criminal justice major, explains the theme.

“We’re hoping by doing this, people will be able to figure out something about themselves,” she said. “When you read our report about how professors or workplaces solve mysteries, we’re hoping you’ll consider that and think about how you solve mysteries.”

Over the year, students will delve into how curiosity, discovery, and research can uncover answers to essential questions while revealing inspiring stories along the way. Each student will conduct interviews with SMC faculty, staff, and administration, learning how they approach and solve complex mysteries. They aim to understand which stories – fictional or real – have helped others find solutions. They hope to gain insight into the processes that lead to breakthroughs and new perspectives.

The students decided that a writing contest was a great way to gather stories and ideas about how people approach solving mysteries.

As a kick-off to the project, seven students went to see Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” put on by the Spartanburg Little Theater. It was the first time several students had seen a live theater production, and seeing the solving of a mystery in action tied in nicely with the theme of their project.

The students also weighed in on how to use the grant funds in service of their project.

“We polled the students to get their ideas about how to use the grant funds,” Dr. Kithcart explained. “One of our students, Codee Wilson, wanted to help community members in need. That idea morphed into helping students who have a need.”

So, the group devised a way to conduct their project and benefit students on campus by contributing to the Pioneer Pantry. This on-campus pantry provides food, snacks, and hygiene products at no cost to the students of SMC.

“The Pioneer Pantry is extremely popular,” Dr. Welch explained. “From the discussion, the idea became ‘we’ll award three writing contest winners a small gift card and then donate $50 on their behalf to the Pioneer Pantry’, so they’re also providing help to the campus community.”

Honors in Action is more than plays and writing contests, however.

“Honors in Action is one piece of this large pie. It’s not just a student-advisor project, it’s a campus project,” Dr. Welch said. “It spans both semesters, so next semester, we’ll have writing days, look for resources, and look at how to put it together for a whole report.”

The group will submit a report to the national chapter with the project’s results, and the students could earn a Hallmark award from PTK, which recognizes individuals, chapters, and regions for achievements in leadership, service, scholarship, and fellowship.

In October 2025, the members of PTK will set up an experience on campus to share their project and findings. It will also appear in the Pioneer Pinnacle, an interdisciplinary journal published on SMC’s website.

Hawkins is excited about the project and is grateful for the experience she’s had as part of PTK.

“Joining groups like this, you join with people you don’t know,” she said. “I’m an athlete on campus, so most of my crowd are athletes. It’s cool to see a different side of the campus through meeting other students. I also really want to grow my leadership skills and see what opportunities this program has.”

Dr. Welch reflected on the course of the project and the many paths it could take.

“We’ll have a lot of critical thinking skills developing in the spring because we’re going to have to find connections and share what each person has discovered from the interviews,” she said. “We’re just going to see how it comes together and what themes we draw out.”