Featured Image: Student, Robert Knight, of Beta Beta Chi (provided by Northampton Community College)
NCC PTK Chapters Win at Catalyst Convention
Chapters took home awards at the international and regional level
BETHLEHEM, PA – 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/
About Northampton Community College
With an enduring commitment to the regional communities it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College is an educational institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty, and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director, as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students annually from 53 counties, 42 countries, and 25 states. For more information or to apply, please visit northampton.edu. Follow NCC on LinkedIn, Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege, TikTok @NorthamptonCC, and Facebook.
