For the second straight year, Jefferson State Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter has been recognized as the nation’s most distinguished chapter.

The chapter won the award, which highlights scholarship, leadership and service, at the recent Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Grapevine, Texas, beating out more than 1,250 chapters nationwide.

Jeff State spokesperson David Bobo said the award highlights Jeff State’s academic prowess.

“We love our athletics, and that’s fantastic, but it’s wonderful to see students being recognized for academics, service and leadership qualities,” he said. “This is such a large organization with outstanding students throughout the world. It was a fantastic honor to win it last year. That was just unbelievable, but to follow it up again was just incredible.”

Bobo said Phi Theta Kappa has been honoring Jeff State chapters for years. For the past eight years, either the Hoover-Shelby campus chapter or the Jefferson campus chapter have won the award for best in the state, he said.

“We take pride in our students and our academic achievements, and this is a tangible way of showing just how good our students are,” Bobo said. “We’re very proud of our students and their efforts, our advisors and the whole program.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges.