WORCESTER, MA – April 30, 2025 – At this year's PTK Catalyst 2025 convention, QCC’s Alpha Zeta Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society received multiple awards in recognition of the organization’s dedication, research and community service.
QCC’s PTK chapter received the nationwide First Place in Honors in Action Research Project - Distinguished Theme Award for their project titled "Threads of Dignity," which analyzed systemic factors contributing to the unhoused population in Worcester, Massachusetts.
"We have a very strong officer team that worked really hard," said Program Coordinator of PTK Lizette Reid, who traveled with the team to Kansas City for the convention.
The group was also named a Distinguished Chapter, placing it in the top 10% of PTK chapters worldwide. This designation is awarded only to chapters that submit outstanding entries for both the Honors in Action Project and College Project Awards. Additionally, the chapter was recognized as a Top 100 Chapter among nearly 1,300 PTK chapters globally, a distinction reserved for chapters that have earned 5-star status.
The chapter's success extended to the regional level as well, where they were named the Most Distinguished Chapter in New England. They also won Second Place in the 2024 College Project for the Alpha Zeta Theta Community Closet initiative, which collected clothing and hygiene products for unhoused individuals.
"Winning five awards this year, including the Most Distinguished Chapter in New England, was an incredible affirmation of the commitment, resilience and heart that drove everything we accomplished as a team," said 2024/2025 PTK President Talissa Goncalves. "This experience taught me that strong leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice; it’s about listening deeply, uplifting others, and leading with authenticity. That’s the kind of leader I’ve become, and the kind I will continue striving to be.”