CAC's Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Dominates Regional Convention with 11 Awards!

Hold on to your hats, folks, because the Alpha Theta Delta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Central Arizona College (CAC) just cleaned up at the recent PTK Regional Convention held in Tempe, AZ! These Wildcats brought home a whopping 11 awards, making them the cats meow in the world of PTK.

The cherry on top? CAC's Chapter received the highly coveted Distinguished Chapter Award. That's right, they were the cat's pajamas! To be considered for this award, a chapter must submit entries for both the Honors in Action Project and College Project Award. And let me tell you, these feline scholars crushed it.

Not only that, but they also received the Distinguished Chapter Officer Team award with Robert Serrano and Aurica Morrison being named Distinguished Chapter Officers. These two were chosen based on their purrfect leadership, promotion of Phi Theta Kappa programming, and engagement in society. Meowza!

But wait, there's more! CAC's Phi Theta Kappa advisors also clawed their way to the top with some major honors. Dr. Joe Faykosh received the Paragon Award for advisors with less than four years of service, while Sylvia Vega was inducted into the Paragon Advisor Hall of Honor. Dr. Sandy Rath was bestowed with the Distinguished Advisor award and Michelle Gomez was given the Distinguished Advisor Hall of Honor award. These cool cats were recognized for their contributions to the growth of individual members, encouraging the chapter's involvement on the local, regional and international level, and their work as chapter advocates on the College's campus. Talk about a dream team!

With over 1,300 chapters of Phi Theta Kappa internationally, these Wildcats proved they were at the top of the litter. The CAC Phi Theta Kappa advisors were named the Distinguished Advisor Team both at the regional and international level. That's right, they were the alpha cats! The team of Michelle Gomez, Heather Moulton, Joe Faykosh and Dr. Sandy Rath will be honored on-stage as one of the TOP Distinguished Advisor Teams in the Phi Theta Kappa organization at the Catalyst International Convention in April.

But wait, there's even more! Other awards received by the CAC chapter include the College Project Hall of Honor, REACH Award and 5-Star Chapter Award. Their College Project established and strengthened a supportive relationship between the chapter and the college administration, resulting in the creation of "Relaxation Stations" at the Signal Peak and San Tan Campuses. Meow-velous! They also received the REACH Award for achieving a 15% membership acceptance rate, and earned Five Star Chapter Status by completing five levels of engagement leading to the development of a strong and active chapter. These cats were on fire!

Dr. Sandy Rath was ecstatic, saying "We are honored as individuals and as a chapter to receive this recognition. All these awards, earned by both students and advisors, are an indication that CAC provides a world-class learning experience for our students – all of whom can achieve greatness and receive acknowledgement for their hard work." Purrfectly said, Dr. Rath!

The cherry on top of this purrfectly sweet victory? These students will be acknowledged at the Phi Theta Kappa Induction ceremony held on Thursday, April 6th at 6 p.m. at the CAC Pence Center. These cats are the cream of the crop, and we can't wait to see what kind of magic they'll conjure up next!