Gateway Community College’s local chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society recently took home the coveted Hallmark Award for their work with at-risk students at the College. 

The award was bestowed upon GCC’s Alpha Xi Theta chapter at the PTK Catalyst 2019 National Convention April 4 – 6 in Orlando, Florida.  Students in the local chapter were recognized with the award for their work with students in GCC’s Family Economic Security Program (FESP) and the Gateway to College (G2C) program.  Ranked as a 5-Star Chapter for the first time in Alpha Xi Theta Chapter history, GCC’s PTK also was named among the Top 100 Chapters out of 1,300. 

In addition, students earned regional recognition with awards for Distinguished College Project and First Runner-Up as Distinguished Chapter.  Student Government Association (SGA) President Monica Maldonado was named Distinguished Chapter Member for advocacy and leadership. 

The chapter’s College Project centered on the GCC’s academic mission of encouraging student success and the group focused its efforts on improving college completion rates for at-risk students.  Sharing their success in college with others, the chapter identified FESP and G2C students as two groups of students that would most benefit.  Students in FESP have completed at least nine college credits, but are at high risk of not finishing college for various reasons.  The G2C group is comprised of high school students who are struggling or behind in earned high school credits.  G2C is designed to provide support to help students earn both a high school diploma and college credit. 

To help at-risk students succeed, members of the chapter developed a list of information that they felt would be useful for an overall picture of how to navigate college.  General questions were answered about courses, registration and college resources.  The chapter also matched PTK members pursuing a variety of career paths with at-risk students interested in similar paths so that specific information could be shared.

For the Distinguished Chapter Member recognition, Maldonado was nominated for her work in numerous areas of the college, from recruiting new PTK members to encouraging student involvement in college activities.  Maldonado has planned activities, recruited volunteers and helped students interested in starting new clubs on campus.  She has also participated in the President’s Cabinet and was part of a press conference on campus where then Governor-Elect Ned Lamont announced his transition team.