Mohawk Valley Community College welcomed 81 students into the Lambda Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa during a Sept. 14 induction ceremony at the college’s Utica campus. MVCC Inducts 81 Students Into Phi Theta Kappa.
The international honor society recognizes academic achievement at two-year colleges. MVCC offers membership to students who have completed at least 12 credits in a degree program and earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
The ceremony was led by MVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa student officers. College President Randall VanWagoner and Vice President Lew Kahler participated, and Dr. Aaron Fried, a professor in the School of STEM-Transfer, served as guest speaker.
Students recognized across the region
The new members come from Utica, Rome, Clinton, New Hartford, Ilion, Little Falls and many other communities. The list reflects the wide service area of the college and the varied paths students take through community college.
Utica inductees were Nay Aung, Luke Benjamin, Alyss Bronga, Brandi Castronovo, Alyssa Coffey, Kevin Cu, Dorothy Feratovic, Niko Grossi, Kristina Kachanovich, Thinzar Kyaw, Juliya Lashchuk, Yuliia Leonchyk, Franki Lloyd, Alexander Maier, Heather McGovern, Leyla Muric, Be Nee, Decio Neto, Fatih Ahmed Nuralem, El-Emin Seferagic, Larry Steele II and Preston Vo.
Rome inductees were Michael Abiaw, Elizabeth Dougherty, Emaleigh Ernenwein, Lexi McClenin, Thomas Ragonese, Jordan Roser and Lawrence Surratt.
Students from New Hartford were Vicky Chen, Owen LaGasse, L Stone and Done Uzumcu. Clinton students were Carl Falk, Julia Nessel and Rina Suppe.
Ilion inductees were Sarah Cruse, Logan Shedd, Gabriel Dennise Tuscano and Khristen Daniel Tuscano. Marcy students were Evan Bauer, Jessica Beckwith, Trinity Kubinski and Troy Wakefield.
Additional Mohawk Valley inductees
Other nearby inductees included Kristen Shuey of Herkimer; Ezekiel Greene of Little Falls; Hannah Davis of Frankfort; True Trenholm of Holland Patent; Derick Madore of New York Mills; Rosemarie Pritchard of Oneida; Braelyn Oehler of Oriskany; Damon Price of Paris; and Evalyn Gates, Sofia-Mariia Samoshuk and Brett Vannamee of Remsen.
Sauquoit students Evan Critelli, George Marsh and Kourtney Mazurowski were also inducted. The list also includes Mary Dieteman of Sherrill; Karley Garlock and Maryann Ormsbee of Taberg; Nataliia Maihur of Vernon; Elizabeth Synakowski of Verona; Virginia Schoen and Myat Shein of Whitesboro; Cadence Sharp of Barneveld; and Mia Mattia of Deerfield.
Students from communities beyond the immediate Mohawk Valley were also honored, including Andrea Conway of Altmar; Rachael Sadlowski and Kaiden Sedrel of Ava; Alexis Albrecht of Camden; Caden Firlik of Chaumont; Nicole Bever of Delanson; Tiffany Rodriguez of Deposit; Amy Radigan of Dolgeville; Alicia Soucia of Durhamville; Ariel Banks of Endwell; Claire Nolett of Gloversville; Jondae Laduc of Harrisville; Ryan Colton of West Monroe; and Leah Lallier of Westdale.
What Phi Theta Kappa membership means
Phi Theta Kappa is a chapter-based honor society serving community-college students. Membership is offered by participating colleges to students who meet local academic requirements.
The organization says members can pursue scholarships, leadership opportunities, academic programs and resources designed to help with transfer or career planning. Details about benefits and eligibility are available through the official Phi Theta Kappa website.
Induction does not mean every student has followed the same academic route. Some may be preparing to transfer to a four-year institution. Others may be completing technical, career-focused or professional programs before entering the workforce.
The common achievement is sustained academic performance. Meeting a 3.5 GPA requirement while completing college-level courses can require careful planning, regular attendance and consistent work over time.
Why the recognition matters locally
Community colleges provide a starting point for recent high-school graduates, working adults, career changers and students returning after time away from education. Public recognition can help challenge the idea that academic distinction belongs only to students at four-year universities.
The induction also highlights local talent. Many of the honorees live in Oneida and Herkimer counties, and the skills they build may later support schools, health care organizations, public agencies and businesses across the region.
MVCC’s ceremony gave families, faculty members and college leaders a chance to recognize that effort. For the students, membership may open another set of academic and leadership opportunities as they move toward graduation, transfer or employment.
More information about MVCC programs is available at mvcc.edu.
