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Scholarship, Leadership, Service & Fellowship
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Sebastian Terry Inspires Students to Chase Bold Dreams
From personal loss to global inspiration, motivational speaker and bestselling author Sebastian Terry is joining the PTK Catalyst 2026 speaker lineup as a keynote speaker. Sebastian’s life changed in his mid-twenties after he lost a close friend, a moment that led him to ask a simple question: “Am I happy?” The answer was no. Determined to live…
PTK Alumna Tala Alahmar Named Policy Fellow
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is proud to celebrate alumna and board member Tala Alahmar on her appointment as a Policy Fellow with the New Democrat Coalition, a coalition of 115 forward-thinking members of Congress focused on results-driven policy solutions. In her new role, she will manage the Coalition’s portfolios in national security, including defense and…
Astronaut and Advocate Takes the Catalyst Stage
From the halls of Congress to outer space, astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen is joining the PTK Catalyst 2026 speaker lineup as a keynote speaker in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2013, while she was a student at Harvard University, Amanda dreamed of being an astronaut, but her dreams were temporarily upended when she was sexually assaulted. Determined not…
Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Establishes David Shinn Family Scholarship Endowment to Support Future Global Leaders
The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Foundation has announced the establishment of the David Shinn Family Scholarship Endowment, a permanent scholarship fund created by Ambassador David H. Shinn to support high-achieving community college students pursuing careers related to international affairs. An alumnus and longtime supporter of Phi Theta Kappa, Ambassador Shinn has dedicated his career to…
Phi Theta Kappa Appoints Dr. Samantha Levy as Chief Officer of Student Engagement
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society serving high-achieving students at community and technical colleges, has named Dr. Samantha Levy as its new Chief Officer of Student Engagement, effective immediately. In this role, Dr. Levy will provide executive leadership for PTK’s student engagement and membership strategy, guiding how students experience Phi Theta Kappa from…
From Uzbekistan to USC: How PTK and the Cooke Foundation Shaped a Future in Tech
By Sadokat Khakimova by PTK Alum and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Recipient as well as a Guistwhite (2021) and Oberndorf (2020) scholarship recipient. I grew up in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan and arrived in the United States in 2018 with big dreams, limited resources, and no expectations. My initial plan was to head…
Press Releases
Lulu McGowan Appointed to Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) is proud to announce the appointment of Lulu McGowan to its Board of Directors. McGowan, a student at St. Louis Community College and the Society’s current International President, was unanimously selected by the Board to represent the voice of students at the highest level of PTK leadership. McGowan was…
Phi Theta Kappa Announces Founder’s Medal Scholarship Award Winner
Ahnora Ozor, a student at Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) in Maryland, has been named the 2025 Phi Theta Kappa Founders Medal Award recipient. Ozor received a $1,000 scholarship and the 2025 Founders Medal Medallion at PGCC’s spring Commencement Ceremony this past week. This award is presented to one graduating PTK member whose essay most powerfully conveys…
Top Community College Students Named to 2025 All-USA Team
For the 65th consecutive year, 20 of the nation’s top college students have been named to the 2025 All-USA Academic Team. In recognition of this distinction, each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship. The 2025 All-USA Academic Team was recognized during a session at the American Association of Community Colleges’ annual convention on April 15…
Five PTK Members Elected as 2025-2026 International Officer Team
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) elected five new International Officers during PTK Catalyst 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. These students were chosen by their peers—more than 220,000 active members—to serve as the 2025–2026 International Officer Team, the highest student leadership position within the organization. More than honorary ambassadors, these…
Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Appoints Dr. Blake Ellis to Board of Trustees
The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Foundation proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Blake Ellis to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Ellis brings over two decades of experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and public service, making him a valuable addition to the Foundation’s governance team. Dr. Ellis began his PTK journey as a faculty member…
Willis Joins PTK Presidential Advisory Board
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has named Dr. Daria J. Willis, president of Howard Community College, to its Presidential Advisory Board. Dr. Willis previously served as the state of Washington’s representative, and we are especially grateful to welcome her back as the Maryland representative to PTK’s Presidential Advisory Board. On the board, she will…