During a special induction ceremony at the Pottstown Campus, Montgomery County Community College welcomed some of the newest members to the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society for two-year colleges. Photo by Diane VanDyke
Montgomery County Community College recently celebrated the induction of 32 students into the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society for two-year colleges for the spring 2026 semester during a special ceremony on the Pottstown Campus on April 21.
To be eligible for this elite honor, students must achieve a 3.5 or higher grade point average and have earned a minimum of 12 credits. PTK members exemplify the values of scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service.
The induction ceremony started with opening remarks by Chapter President Megan Neeson, followed by remarks by co-advisors Meredith Frank, Communications Assistant Professor, and Dr. Douglas Powell, History Assistant Professor. The guest speaker was alumna Katrina Boughter Paul, Dual Enrollment College Services Assistant.
The ceremony included the presentation and explanation of the PTK torch, rose and emblem, and each inductee signed the chapter book.
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 Beta Tau Lambda inductees for spring 2026 include: Keirnan Brady, Anthony Cicala, Elizabeth Ciccoli, Tammy Derstine, Damion Douglas, Matthew Felix, Sabrina Fesmire, Nora Goodwin, Fiona Herceg, Emile Hipszer, Rayn Hoch, Tyisha Hutchinson, Carlee Knickerbocker, Aaron Laws, Chi Ma, Jasmin Martinon, Molly McGinnis, Courtney Morrow, Megan Neeson, Cora Paras, Ashley Rachuba, Craig Rittase, Maya Rittenbaugh, Keerthana Selvarathanam, Daniel Silva Turro, Ethan Smith, Kylie Smith, Kayla Thibeault, Aaliyah Ulrich, Matthew Walmsley, Cameron Wanish and Makayla Wilkinson.
Becoming a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society offers many benefits, including recognition at the induction ceremony and commencement, access to scholarships, career training, transfer support, leadership development, and member discounts. For a complete list of benefits and detailed information, visit Phi Theta Kappa Benefits at ptk.org/benefits.
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. Dr. Catherine Parzynski, History Assistant Professor and Dr. Cathy Hoult Shewring, History Professor, are the co-advisors for Alpha Kappa Zeta.