QCC’s Alpha Zeta Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society achieved remarkable success at this year's PTK Catalyst 2025 convention, bringing home multiple prestigious awards that recognize their exceptional dedication, research and community service.
PTK 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. This project, which focused on the theme Stories of Information, Misinformation, and Disinformation, demonstrated exceptional research and community engagement.
The group was also named a Distinguished Chapter, placing it in the top 10% of PTK chapters worldwide. This elite designation is awarded only to chapters that submit outstanding entries for both the Honors in Action Project and College Project Awards. The chapter was also 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 First Place in Honors in Action Research Project with a Distinguished Theme Award and Second Place in the 2024 College Project for the Alpha Zeta Theta Community Closet initiative.
"We have a very strong officer team that worked really hard," said Lizette Reid, program coordinator of PTK and the Student Support Mentoring Center, who also gave thanks to former PTK advisor Bonnie Coleman, who recently retired after a long career at the college.
The 2024/2025 chapter's leadership included:
Talissa Goncalves - President
Matthew Vitolo - Vice President
Ebenezer Ahiator - Recording Secretary
Alyssa Williston - Officer-at-Large
Vijay Kesavan and Nicholas Amelian - Greenhouse Managers
This level of achievement hasn't been seen since 2017, when the chapter last won all these awards.
"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 Talissa Goncalves. "Serving as president of QCC's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was not just an honor, it was a life-changing experience. Coming to this country with big dreams, I embraced the opportunity to lead boldly in a language that wasn’t my first. I stepped into this role determined to grow, and I did."
PTK also held their induction ceremony last month, which swore in new members and the following new officers for the 2025-2026 academic year.
SantaMaria Sessarego - President
Noah MacDonald - Vice President
Ian Kluviste - Treasurer
Eli Tripp - Research Coordinator
Allison Castaneda - Recording Secretary
Angelica Martinez Huertas - Officer-at-Large
Nicholas Amelian - Greenhouse Manager
Matthew Oosterman - Public Relations
Jessica Davis - Fundraising Chair
Anthony Riedl - Coordinator of Events and Services
For more information on PTK, contact Lizette Reid at lreid@qcc.mass.edu.