May 16, 2024 – Kirtland, Ohio – Lakeland Community College’s Alpha Psi Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) was recognized with multiple awards at the Phi Theta Kappa National Conference and the Ohio Regional Awards ceremony during spring semester. The conferences were attended by chapter president Hannah Wayts; vice presidents Greg Nicholson, Victoria Hiller, and April Hubbard; Lakeland alumna Grace Blatt; and advisers Dr. Andrea Musial, professor James Dailey, and Dr. Matthew Hiner.

At the National Convention, held this year in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Musial was named one of 20 Continued Excellence Advisor award winners in the United States while Grace Blatt was named one of 18 national recipients of the Alumni Hall of Honor award. Blatt is only the third Lakeland student to earn Hall of Honor distinction. In addition to individual recognition, the Alpha Psi Rho chapter was named one of the Top 100 Chapters in the United States for the third consecutive year, won an Outstanding College Project award, and earned a Five Star Chapter Award for the 13th year in a row and the 17th time in the last 18 years.

At the Ohio Regional Awards ceremony, the chapter was named the Outstanding Regional Chapter in Ohio for the second time in the past three years. The Ohio Region includes all community colleges and four-year branch campuses in Ohio and northern West Virginia. The chapter also won the regional Outstanding College Project award and was named Outstanding Northern District Chapter.

Chapter officers and advisers also won numerous regional awards, including the Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team (Hannah Wayts, Greg Nicholson, Victoria Hiller, and April Hubbard), the Cindy Carbone Continued Excellence in Advising Award (Dr. Musial), and the Alumni Award of Achievement (Grace Blatt). Three Lakeland representatives were also elected to regional offices at the convention. April Hubbard was elected to serve as the 2024-2025 Northern Ohio Regional vice president, Grace Blatt was elected to serve as the 2024-2025 president of Alpha of Ohio, the largest PTK alumni association in the United States, and Greg Nicholson was elected to serve as the alumni representative at-large for Alpha of Ohio.

In addition to the chapter awards, two Phi Theta Kappa members at Lakeland Community College have been honored with a place on the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team for 2024, joining more than 60 students from Ohio’s community college system honored with scholarships and recognition for their excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. A ceremony to recognize this year’s award winners was held April 26 as part of Community College Month in Ohio. Joseph Demore earned All-Ohio Second Team honors while Victor Palermo was named to the Third Team.

By: Tracy Shook, Sr. Dir. for Marketing & Communications