PTK Takes Home Awards at Catalyst Convention 

The Northampton Community College (NCC) chapters of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society took home several awards at this year’s PTK Catalyst Convention in Baltimore, Maryland held March 26-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center. 

On the international level, the Bethlehem campus Tau Gamma chapter took home the 2026 Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award. The student officer team is comprised of Crystal Armstrong, Judy Htun, Payton Malehorn, Ei Thanzin Myo, and Ayla Lucia Anna Skubera.  

Tau Gamma chapter advisors, Nykolai Blichar, Mary Pickett, and Thomas Mengel have been awarded the 2026 Distinguished Chapter Advisor Team Award on the international level as well. 

Regional Level Awards 

Tau Gamma (Bethlehem):  

Five Star Chapter 

MSR Legends Award 

Chapter Officer Hall of Honor Inductees: Ei Thanzin Myo & Judy Htun  

Distinguished Chapter Officer Team 

Distinguished College Project 

Advisor Paragon Award: Thomas Mengel  

Distinguished Chapter Advisor Team

Beta Beta Chi (Pocono): 

Chapter Officer Hall of Honor Inductee: Robert Knight  

Distinguished Honors in Action Project 

Beta Beta Chi’s winning Honors in Action Project, the Give & Gather initiative, was directly developed from the chapter’s research findings related to food insecurity and barriers to access among college students. PTK members, Robert Knight, Aurelia Hoffman, Shanique Bourn, and Joana O’Connor, promoted the Pocono campus C.A.R.E. pantry and provided needed services to the college community. By providing free meals, especially around the Thanksgiving holiday, they aimed to respond to this urgent need with compassion and action. This experience encouraged students to reflect more deeply on food access challenges. 

“Seeing how grateful and appreciative everyone was reinforced why this work truly matters; being able to make an impact on students during such a difficult time was both humbling and motivating. This experience reminded our chapter that informed action is not just about meeting immediate needs, but about building human connection, empathy, and lasting commitment to service,” said Robin Watson, Beta Beta Chi chapter advisor. 

For Tau Gamma’s winning college project, they put together a mural on the connection bridge between College Center and Penn Hall on Bethlehem campus. The officer team acquired student artists for the mural, and together, they created a shared artistic space filled with inspirational artwork that motivates students and all other members of the campus community.  

“It brightened an otherwise dark hallway. The mural took about five months to complete, and there were fifteen named contributors, but it was the product of cross-departmental collaboration that included our NCC President, Dr. David A. Ruth, Associate Provost and Dean of Students, Dr. Eric Rosenthal, facilities, and more! It truly was a labor of love for NCC and our wider campus community,” said Mengel.  

To see more about PTK, visit https://www.ptk.org/