Montgomery County Community College recently celebrated the induction of 18 students into the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, during a special ceremony held at West Campus in Pottstown.

The following students were inducted: Patricia Alves Dos Santos, Phoenixville; Amanda Blue, Gilbertsville; Ashon Calhoun, Pottstown; Cody Branden, Pine Forge; Michael Dimaio, Stowe; Nicole DiMichael, Pottstown; Fariha Dulal, Lansdale; Taylor Gilmartin, Gilbertsville; Christopher Gotwals, Barto; Eric Hanson, Chester Springs; Sangwoo Hwang, Blue Bell; Shoshana Kabinoff, Barto; Marcin Kowalski, Pottstown; Natoshia Miller, Greenville; Maggie Neiman, Pottstown; Chinenye Osuji, Gilbertsville; Zachary Perales, Pottstown; and Zachary Scofield, Pottstown.

The Beta Tau Lambda Chapter officers are President Katrina Boughter and Vice President Ashley Tokarski. The co-advisors are Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Dr. Monica Proffitt-Osborne and English Instructor Victoria Vetro.

To be eligible for PTK membership, students must earn a minimum of 12 credits, maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be of good moral character. The four hallmarks of PTK members are scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service.

During the ceremony, keynote speaker Dr. Keima Sheriff, Gateway to College Project Director, shared her advice with the students, quoting critical thinker and author, Werner Erhard.

“You can live your life out of your circumstances or live your life out of your vision,” she said. “When you live your life out of circumstances, you are projecting the hurts of the past into your future and fearing it in the present. When you live your life out of your vision, you are living in the future, unrelated to the past, and you’re glowing in it today.”

“When you hold onto your vision, you can overcome any barriers, no matter what they are,” she continued. Your inductee gowns are your superhero capes. Whatever comes your way, you know you can defeat it. You got this.”

MCCC has two PTK chapters – Alpha Kappa Zeta at Central Campus and Beta Tau Lambda at West Campus in Pottstown. Both chapters recently were recognized as PTK 2019 REACH (Recognizing Excellence in Acceptance and Completion with Honors) chapters due to their increasing membership growth.

Since the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter was organized in 2011, it has attained Five-Star status for seven consecutive years, has earned the Middle States Gold Award for five consecutive years and has received the Reach Challenge award for three years. A chapter earns a Five-Star status based upon its participation in campus, local, regional and national activities and receives the Gold Award based upon its five-star status and participation in Middle States events. The Reach Challenge award is based upon the percentage of students who are invited and join PTK.

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