Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) recently celebrated the induction of 79 students into the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter and nine students into the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges during special ceremonies.

To be eligible for PTK membership, students have to earn a minimum of 12 credits, maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, be of good moral character and possess recognized qualities of leadership. Alpha Kappa Zeta is located at MCCC’s Central Campus in Blue Bell, and the co-advisors are Catherine Parzynski and Cathy Hoult Shewring.

Established in 2011, Beta Tau Lambda is located at West Campus in Pottstown. The co-advisors are Samuel Wallace and Monica Proffitt-Osborne.

During the ceremony for Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter inductees, the keynote speaker Dr. G. Andrew Szekely, former mayor of Lansdale, spoke about the importance of PTK’s tenets of scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service.

“It is a tremendous honor to give back to the community,” he said. “Wherever you go, look for opportunities to serve and strive to give back. As Winston Churchill said, ‘We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.’”

As PTK members, students receive several benefits, including participation in the Honors in Action program, soft skills training, transfer scholarships opportunities, member discounts through PTK and recognition during commencement with special regalia attire.

For the ceremony for Beta Tau Lambda Chapter inductees, the guest speaker was Catherine Parzynski, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of History at MCCC. She has been the advisor of the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter for 10 years. During her tenure, she saw 1,293 students become inducted into the Alpha chapter.

Since Beta Tau Lambda was started in 2011 in Pottstown, 211 students have been inducted.

Dr. Parzynski spoke about the opportunities available for PTK inductees, including transfer and merit scholarships and leadership and self-discovery opportunities.

“Think of this as the beginning of where you are going next and use PTK and the advisors as your springboard to get there,” she said to the new inductees.

The following students were inducted into the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of PTK:

Ambler: Savanah Holcomb, Roger Mallach, Emma Spangler

Ardmore: Moses Kim

Blue Bell: Camille Bentley, Hollis Kagan, Stephen Niven

Chalfont: Caroline Benitz

Cheltenham: Cindy Huckel

Collegeville: Victoria Adams, Alexandra Laskey, Rose Schmiedicke

Dresher: Daniel Aquino

Eagleville: Shayla Fornal

East Greenville: William Hannum

East Norriton: Corin Ignas

Elkins Park: Bryan Fine, Teresa Rambo, Andrew Silverman, Tsipporah Thompson 

Erdenheim: Amber Ibrahim

Fort Washington: Terrence Connelly, Amber Whitehill

Gap: Mark Lisney

Glenside: Wuaner Ventura

Harleysville: Anna Frick, Susanna Frustino, Maura Gnias, Emily Miller, Ben Poehlmann, Justin Ziegler

Hatboro: Eryka Bradley, Andrea Myers, Joshua Ruth

Hatfield: Alexandra Hewitt, Kaitlyn Phifer

Hereford: Eric Boyer

Holland: Adam Oehrle

Huntingdon Valley: Patrick Murray

Jenkintown: Asteri Aliaj

King of Prussia: Megan Monteleone, Rebecca Willgruber

Lansdale: Danielle Davis, Patrick Mason, Emily McLaughlin, Sarah Nicholas, Nusrath Noor      

Maple Glen: Katherine Araya

New Britain: Taksina Tamondong

Norristown: Jason Heiland, Michelle Laroe, Cynthia Smith, Jade Smith, Wei Zhou

North Wales: Jennifer Iwanycky, Jungsoo Lee, Stephanie Villagran

Oreland: Robert Shapley

Pennsburg: Heath Petipren

Philadelphia: Brigette Barrow

Plymouth Meeting: Margaret  Rogers

Pottstown: Angela Lubrano-Lobianco, Zachary Perales

Roslyn: Carter Rooney, Simcha Winter

Sanatoga: Betsyann Thornton

Schwenksville: McKenzie Miller, Sandrah Moyo, Andrea Riccio

Souderton: Brighid Fitzpatrick, Tuyen Le, Amelia Watts

Telford: Jakob Stroup, Nicholas Wieder

Trooper: Barry Hunsberger

Willow Grove: Christopher Boullata, Isak Gomez

Worcester: Connor Judge

Woxall: Max Luckenbach

 The following students were inducted into the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of PTK:

 Coatesville: Keslie Hetzel-Castro

Gilbertsville: Amanda Castanon

Limerick: Jason Heflin

Mont Clare: Erin Phelan

Morgantown: Madison Anderson

Pottstown: Kiley Band, Brandi Hemler, Ashley Tokarski, Shamyra Woodlin

Zieglerville: Stephanie Symons

The Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter leadership team includes Co-Presidents Kat Arya and Jessica Lawder, Vice President of Scholarship Shane Staret, Vice President of Leadership Brandon Higgins, Vice President of Service Caroline Benitz, Vice President of Fellowship Susan Sewall, Secretary Roger Mallach, Treasurer Peter Kramme and Public Relations Officer Ezinne Ottih. 

The Beta Tau Lambda Chapter leadership team includes President Katrina Boughter and Vice President Jordan Whittemore.