The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, the international honor society for two-year colleges, recently recognized Montgomery County Community College’s two PTK chapters – Alpha Kappa Zeta at the Blue Bell Campus, and Beta Tau Lambda at the Pottstown Campus – as 2021 PTK REACH and Five-Star chapters.

PTK’s REACH (Recognizing Excellence in Acceptance and Completion with Honors) program honors PTK chapters for their work in bringing the valuable benefits and opportunities of PTK membership to even more students in 2020. This year, MCCC’s PTK chapters are among the 1,081 chapters from around the world to earn this recognition. More than 288 students at MCCC were inducted into PTK in 2020.

The Five-Star chapter status is the highest level of achievement a chapter can attain through its participation in campus, local, regional, national and international activities. Despite not being on campus for most of 2020 due to the pandemic, PTK members continued to meet online, participate in leadership training opportunities and volunteer with service projects.

“Our students face many adversities both personally and professionally, and these prominent chapter recognitions are especially meaningful in demonstrating their commitment to attaining their academic and career goals,” said Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “I’m very proud of our talented students and their accomplishments and of our dedicated faculty advisors for their extraordinary efforts.”

Both chapters perform service projects during the spring and fall semesters. Beyond the leadership and service opportunities, PTK also helps to minimize or eliminate tuition debt and enables students to continue to pursue their educational goals.

“One of the most appealing benefits of PTK is the scholarship opportunities associated with membership,” Dr. Parzynski said. “A number of four-year schools, for example, reduce tuition for PTK members, and there are also competitive scholarships.”

Both of MCCC’s PTK chapters have previously earned the distinction of PTK’s Five-Star status, as well as the Middle States Gold and REACH awards for numerous years. MCCC has hosted a PTK chapter on its campuses since 1984.

Read more about Montgomery County Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapters.