April 1, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC hosted Phi Theta Kappa’s regional conference for the second year in a row. The virtual event, March 24 to 26, included officer elections, breakout sessions, a trivia night, a graduation “afterglow” party, a keynote speaker from Azusa Pacific University, and the opening of a time capsule from 1995.
GRCC’s PTK chapter, Alpha Upsilon Kappa, was recognized as a 5-Star Chapter for the eighth consecutive year, one of only 18 in the 31-chapter region.
Alpha Upsilon Kappa also received other awards:
- The chapter earned its first REACH award for recruiting and engaging new members.
- The chapter received first place for its college project: a video series on campus resources.
- The chapter’s “Honors in Action” project placed fourth for its theme and 10th for the actual project.
- The GRCC officer team -- Aya Ghlaim, Ethan McNeilly and Alyssa Reynolds – placed fifth in the region.
- Nicholas Cetlinski was named a Coca Cola Gold Scholar, earning a $1,500 scholarship.
- Melanie Lequia was named a New Century Workforce Scholar, earning a $1,250 scholarship.
- Ethan McNeilly received the Susan Friedrich Memorial Scholarship of $250.
- Lequia, Cetlinski, Michael Kelley and Philder Okech were named to the All Michigan Academic Team.