Cranford – The Iota Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) at UCNJ earned significant recognition at both the regional and international levels during the Middle States Regional (MSR) Conference and PTK Catalyst International Convention.
Honored for its outstanding College Project, Honors in Action (HIA) Project, and overall excellence, the Iota Xi chapter received a total of eight awards at the regional level and six at the international level.
The College Project, “Assets for Life: Empowering Students Through Financial Literacy,” was developed in alignment with UCNJ’s transfer goals to enhance student success beyond graduation. The initiative featured workshops that built foundational personal finance skills and provided guidance on securing transfer funding opportunities.
The chapter’s Honors in Action Project, “Speak Your Truth: Raising Awareness About Campus Sexual Abuse,” addressed the often-silenced experiences of survivors. The project included a three-day event that combined artistic expression, survivor testimonies, and expert-led discussions to foster awareness and dialogue within the campus community.
At the MSR level, which includes 78 chapters, the Iota Xi chapter received the following honors:
- 5-Star Chapter
- 2nd Most Distinguished Chapter
- Legends Award
- Membership Excellence Award
- 5th Most Distinguished Officer Award – Lara Demetrio
- Hall of Honor Distinguished Officer Award – Hamza Sheikh
- Distinguished Honors in Action Project (Top 15)
- Distinguished College Project (Top 15)
At the international level, among 1,163 chapters worldwide, the chapter earned the following distinctions:
- 5-Star Chapter
- Reach Chapter
- Distinguished Officer Award – Lara Demetrio
- Distinguished Honors in Action Project (Top 45)
- Distinguished College Project (Top 45)
- Distinguished Chapter (Top 36)
“These recognitions reflect the hard work and dedication of our Phi Theta Kappa scholars,” stated UCNJ Executive Vice President & Provost Dr. Maris Lown. “Their commitment to advancing student success and addressing important social issues exemplifies the impact of student leadership at UCNJ.”
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges, recognizing and encouraging academic achievement while providing opportunities for individual growth, leadership, and service.
UCNJ is a public comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to the Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research Lab. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.