March 29, 2019 (Middletown, Conn.) — The Middlesex Community College (MxCC) chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Beta Gamma Xi, inducted 53 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 35-acre campus in Middletown, MxCC@Platt in Meriden, and online.
