Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) has become the first community college in the country to host a chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for first generation college students.

Founded in 2018 at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., Alpha Alpha Alpha, recognizes students, faculty, staff and alumni who are among the first generation in their family to go to college. 

To date 48 other four-year colleges and universities nationwide have been named Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society chapters, including Penn State Abington and West Chester University, locally. 

“As a first generation college graduate, I know how enormously proud our students and their families are of their achievement,” said Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC president. “That’s why it gives me tremendous pleasure to share this news. The hard work and sacrifice that each of these students exerts toward their dream of a college education should be recognized. I look forward to joining Alpha Alpha Alpha and mentoring other first generation students."

“Additionally, becoming the first community college in the nation to be named a chapter of this distinguished honor society is further proof that Montgomery County Community College leads the way toward an enriching life for all of our students, and the communities we serve.”

As of July 1, 2020, to qualify as an Alpha Alpha Alpha inductee, students enrolled in an associate's degree program must have at least a 3.2 GPA and have earned at least 36 credit hours towards their associate’s degree. Additionally, neither of the student's parents, step-parents, or legal guardians, may have completed a bachelor's degree, according to the honor society’s website.

MCCC faculty and staff may be inducted as well. To qualify, they must have achieved an overall 3.2 GPA as an undergraduate at the time they completed their bachelor's degree. Faculty and staff must also be willing to serve as mentors for first-generation students, according to the site.

A small number of alumni and honorary inductees may be initiated each year as well. To qualify, these inductees must have been first-generation students when they completed their bachelor's degree. They must remain connected in some way to the institution which is inducting them— a member of the board or alumni association; the sibling of a current student; a volunteer; a donor; etc. They must have established themselves in their post-college lives in a manner that can be held up to first-generation students as something to aspire to, and must be willing to mentor first-generation students, if asked, according to the site.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity and a great initiative for the College,” said Sean Hutchinson, coordinator of Integrated Learning. “Anytime a college can foster collaborations between students and staff is a great thing. Also, this provides a chance for students to collaborate with other students like themselves. First generation college students can share challenges they face with each other and work together to overcome them.”

As a commuter school, many MCCC students are typically only on campus to attend classes and may not participate in extracurricular activities, said Hutchinson. The honor society can serve as a resource for fellow students to meet one another.

The first induction ceremony and related chapter activities will be announced at the end of the fall semester. Individuals interested in further information should contact GetInvolved@mc3.edu.

Alpha Alpha Alpha becomes the fourth honor society at MCCC.

Last year, the College became a host chapter of Psi Beta, the Community College National Honor Society in Psychology. The honor society’s mission is to “encourage professional development and psychological literacy of all students at two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research and community service,” according to its website.

In 2018, MCCC was recognized as a chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the Math Honor Society, which is an “organization dedicated to promoting scholarship in mathematics and establishing math as an integral part of high school and junior college education,” according to its website.

Additionally, since 1984, MCCC has hosted an active chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (the International Honor Society for Community Colleges). Its purpose is to recognize and encourage student scholarship, offer numerous leadership and service opportunities, promote an intellectual climate for the exchange of ideas and provide stimulation for continuing academic excellence.

MCCC now hosts two PTK chapters – Alpha Kappa Zeta at Central Campus in Blue Bell and Beta Tau Lambda at West Campus in Pottstown.

In March, MCCC celebrated the induction of 19 students into the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa during a special ceremony held at West Campus.

The two chapters were recognized as PTK 2020 REACH (Recognizing Excellence in Acceptance and Completion with Honors) chapters due to their ability to have maintained or increased their membership acceptance rate by 15 percent or more.

Both chapters also attained Five-Star status. Five-star status is the highest level of achievement a chapter can attain through its participation in campus, local, regional, national and international activities.

Both of MCCC’s PTK chapters have previously earned the distinction of PTK’s Five-Star status, and are Middle States Gold and REACH awards recipients.