Honor Society Induction Held at Middlesex Community College

Middletown, Conn. — The Middlesex Community College (MxCC) chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Beta Gamma Xi, inducted 52 new members at a ceremony on Friday, March 29, 2019, on the Middletown campus. Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society that rewards academic excellence while promoting leadership, fellowship, and service, was established nationally in 1918 and chartered at MxCC in 1996.

This year’s inductees have distinguished themselves as high achievers, both as scholars and as members of the MxCC community. They have earned and maintained a grade point average of 3.65 during their college studies and have also participated in a variety of extracurricular activities designed to better their own lives and the lives of those around them.

“You can do the hard work, but don’t be afraid to fail,” said York Clement, president of Beta Gamma Xi chapter, to the inductees. “I struggled with public speaking and at first failed at becoming the vice president of the chapter so I became the treasurer instead. This made me more confident and prepared to then run for president. Always be willing to fail on your way to success.”

The following students were inducted into the honor society:

Ryan Appold, Avon
Alexander Barzallo, Westbrook
Samantha Belanger, Bristol
Kevin Bjarnason, Durham
Aquia Brown-Welch, Meriden
Erin Capozza, Niantic
Dennis Clarke, Rocky Hill
Chelsea Colella, Uncasville
Kevin Conable, Wallingford
Rachel Crawford, Waterford
Christopher Currie, Essex
Ryan Douglas, Deep River
Ailis Frost, East Hampton
Mia Giacometti, Brookfield
Anne Gibbs, Meriden
Annalise Gormley, East Berlin
Yi Guan-Raczkowski, Glastonbury
John Guillamon, Deep River
Ping He, Chester
Amy Heidel, New Britain
Hailey Hicks, Barrington
Marlah Hohlfelder, Guilford
Catharine Holcroft, Columbia
Chassidy Johnson, Middletown
Isabelle Kirschbaum, West Hartford
Aleah Long, Middletown
Ceraina Maggiore, Portland
Benjamin Mausteller, Colchester
Jose Melecio, Middletown
Aileen Miller, Meriden
Samantha Mims, East Haddam
Elizabeth Moag, Middletown
Karen Molloy, Durham
Lina Orlando, Higganum
Austin Pappolla, North Branford
Eric Pinsonneault, Wallingford
Jennifer Reilly, Old Saybrook
Elijah Rodriguez, Middletown
Genise Rodriguez, Meriden
Rany Sarkar, Middletown
Richard Siena, Middletown
Joseph Simmons, Wallingford
Liane Stenholm, Cromwell
Jessenia Sterling, Southington
Lisa Thibodeaux, Glastonbury
Eboni Traverso, Meriden
Connie Turkington, Higganum
Danielle Voyer, East Haddam
Caitlyn Wakefield, Rocky Hill
Sarah Wall, Wallingford
Connor Wilke, Clinton
Melissa Wolfe, Yalesville

PTK advisor Donna Bontatibus, PhD, hosted the ceremony, with greetings from Steven Minkler, EdD, Campus CEO and dean of academic affairs. Co-advisors Landi Hou, MS, and Lin Lin, PhD, also gave remarks, as well as Adrienne Maslin, PhD, dean of students. For more information about PTK at MxCC, please visit https://mxcc.edu/PTK/.

Since 1966, Middlesex Community College has provided high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, enhancing the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. A part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, MxCC offers more than 70 degree or certificate programs at the main 38-acre campus in Middletown, MxCC@Platt in Meriden, and online.