Leticia Laranjeira, recent graduate of Dallas College-North Lake in Texas, has received the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) President’s Award for Leadership Excellence, a two-year transfer scholarship of up to $30,000 each academic year. She served as PTK’s 2023-2024 International Vice President of Division II, one of the highest leadership positions in the organization.
“Leticia is a passionate advocate for community colleges and has been instrumental in sharing the work of CCsmart, a large-scale, national advocacy campaign focused on ending community college stigma,” said PTK President and CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “She is an exceptional student both in and out of the classroom, and I am proud of the work she has accomplished at PTK to help thousands of community college students become the best versions of themselves.”
Before becoming an international officer, Leticia advocated for community college students as a group leader for Community College Day at the Texas state capitol. She campaigned for improvements in public transportation near campuses and lower tuition.
As an international officer, she has served as an ambassador and spokesperson for PTK, delivering speeches, hosting workshops, participating in research, leading service projects, and hosting large-scale events on the regional and international level. On the commUNITY podcast hosted by the 2023-2024 international officer team, Leticia also spoke ardently about her community college experience and championed community colleges as a smart choice for students pursuing higher education.
Leticia graduated at the top of her class with her Associate of Arts in Psychology, and she has been accepted into several universities including Southern Methodist University’s Honors College and Mississippi State University’s Honors College.
Her ultimate aspiration is to become a changemaker within prisons, aiding incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives and breaking the cycle of recidivism.
The PTK Board of Directors nominates and selects the President’s Award for Leadership Excellence recipient. The award is presented to an outstanding member showing exemplary service, leadership, and dedication to the advancement of the mission and ideals of the Society. It is the highest honor given by the PTK Board of Directors.
Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.3 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
