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From left, Andrea Green and Elizabeth Vicente display the Chapter’s 5 Star designation plaques
From left, Chapter member Michael Ogbinaka, Chapter Vice President Yanilda Munoz, Massaer Mar (ECC Class of 2019), Professor Lynn Wilson, Chapter President Samirah Scantling, and Chapter member Paolo Gervasoni
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The College’s Alpha Theta Theta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has received the coveted 5 Star Chapter status. The designation was awarded at the recent PTK Middle States Regional Convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“Receiving this honor is so gratifying. It’s really due to the hard work and dedication of our membership and advisors,” said Samirah Scantling, ECC’s PTK President.
At the convention, Samirah received the Distinguished Chapter Officer, and Hall of fame Chapter President awards. Yanilda Munoz received the Distinguished Chapter Member and Karen Alcocer (Fall 2023 Vice President) was the recipient of the Distinguished Chapter Officer.
“Achieving the 5 Star Chapter honor only comes with a lot of hard work and collaboration on the part of the Officer Team and the membership of our Chapter. Their cohesiveness made it possible to produce the Honors in Action and College Projects – examples of true teamwork,” said ECC Professor Lynn Wilson, co-advisor of the Chapter.
The Chapter’s College Project was dubbed Charity Begins at Home, the PTK ECC Cares Pop-Up Shop. The shop provided numerous, clothes, shoes, other Winter essentials and hygiene items to 75 students from November 27 to December 1, 2023.
The Honors in Action project involved working with the College’s Child Development Center on the Montessori Method, providing various Montessori activities to the young children. The project’s goal was to encourage parents to incorporate free activities into their children’s daily routines.
These activities contribute to earning the 5 Star Chapter designation.
The Chapter held PTK at West Essex on March 12. “By being at our newly opened West Essex campus today, we are showing that the College is growing and PTK is an important part of that,” said Dr. Keith Kirkland, Dean of Student Affairs. He told the PTK members at the event “you are ambassadors for ECC. Continue to reach out to your fellow students.”
PTK member Vanessa Porta said the Chapter is starting work on an initiative called the Power of Stories for the next Honors in Action project. She said the project will focuses on the importance of mental health
Phi Theta Kappa has been a part of ECC since 1982. Samirah said there are numerous scholarship opportunities for PTK members. She stated that 91 percent of members transfer to 4 year college and universities.
