Montgomery County Community College recently celebrated the induction of 63 students into the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society for two-year colleges for the spring 2025 semester during a special ceremony on the Blue Bell Campus.

To be eligible for this elite honor, students must complete a minimum of 12 credits, earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be of good moral character. PTK members exemplify the values of scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service.

The induction ceremony started with introductory remarks by Dr. Catherine Parzynski, History Assistant Professor, who is the co-advisor for the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter with Dr. Cathy Hoult Shewring, History Professor. Following the introduction, Dr. Suzanne del Gizzo, Dean of Liberal Arts, gave the welcoming remarks.

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Patricia McEnery, Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts, who gave an inspiring speech about her career pathway and how various experiences and opportunities served as links in a chain of progression and growth. Her key takeaways included playing to your strengths, being adventurous, recognizing your “luck,” and not stressing if you don’t have it all figured out yet.

“I ended up in a place that I love, doing a job that I love with people who I admire and respect,” she told the inductees and guests gathered in Parkhouse Hall atrium. “And, you can’t ask for more than that.”

The ceremony continued with the presentation of the PTK torch, rose and emblem, followed by the inductees reciting the PTK oath. Each inductee signed the book, received a lit candle and was presented with a white rose.

The inductees are joining a scholarly fellowship that embraces not only community college students in the United States but also nationally and internationally. Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918 and officially recognized in 1929 by the Association of American Community Colleges. Today, it has grown from the original eight chapters to more than 1,300 and it encompasses more than 3.5 million members worldwide. PTK membership enables students to enter into an intellectual fellowship that extends beyond MCCC to regional, national and international networks.

The Alpha Kappa Zeta inductees for spring 2025 include: Charlotte Adams, Franzine Jade Bagalawis, Cecilia Bichage, Spencer Brickman, Nicole Brown, Josselyn Byrnes, Kayla Caissie, Dylan Chinofsky, Chawn Christian, Tiffany Chung, Donte Crump, Ashley Daly, Joseph DeFazio, Kenza Dekkar, Susie Delp, Boubacar Diallo, Stephanie Dombrowski, Gargi Donde, Ashley Durkin, Elisa Fields, Isabella Frank, Abigail Fulop, Joseph Gibbens, Ajalee Gonzalez, Aden Griffith, June Hackman, Stephanie Hansell, Lila Hartner, Chyler Henderson, Kayla Herninko, Brittany Hines, Shayan Idrees, Ashley Kister, Despina Kourtidis, Justice Large, Abigale Lomas, Ethan Lonesky, Matthew Mackara, Benjamin Markman, Camryn May, Briana McCurdy-Titter, Sid Miskiv, Gia Huy Nguyen, Leonard Nguyen, Gianna Osborne, Thomas Pacaro, Safia Patapeika, Connor Patterson, Darren Pierce, Eveonia Pouchan, Juan Reynoso, Kenzie Roberts, Sally Robinson, Andrea Rojas, Laura Sanchez, Colleen Schmidt, Allison Slifer, Scarlet Smith, Khushi Tamang, Jessica Tyson, Angelina Ventura, Isabelle Voight, Rebecca Warren, Zachariah Wheitsel, Heather Wilkins, Sarah Williams, Jacob Wolfgang, and Penny Young.

The Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter officers are Christine Smith, president; Joshu’wa Reid, vice president of scholarship; Emilio Siguenza, vice-president of leadership; Caroline Diaz-Lazo, vice president of service; and Kimberly Madera, secretary.

There are numerous  benefits to being inducted as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, including special recognition during the induction ceremony and at commencement, scholarships, career training opportunities, transfer success, leadership development, and member discounts.

MCCC has two PTK chapters: Alpha Kappa Zeta at the Blue Bell Campus and Beta Tau Lambda at the Pottstown Campus. Both chapters have attained five-star status, the highest rank a chapter can earn. Douglas Powell, History Assistant Professor, and Meredith Frank, Communications Studies Instructor, are the advisers for Beta Tau Lambda.