Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Adds New Honors
PARAMUS, N.J. – Bergen Community College’s internationally recognized chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society of two-year colleges, has added a batch of new awards to its trophy case. The awards, received throughout the spring semester, recognize both individuals and the chapter as a whole.
Among them, the Alpha Epsilon Phi chapter received top 100 honors among 1,250 worldwide, two students won elections for PTK executive officer positions and Assistant Director of PTK and Honors Anna Gergen earned the “Distinguished Advisor Award.”
“I have been serving as PTK chapter advisor for the last five years, and every day I feel so proud to be part of a college that cares so much for students and their success,” she said. “There is a lot of hard work that happens behind the scenes to make these recognitions possible; I am grateful to my co-advisor, Professor Lisa Mayer, along with the students, now and always.”
Gergen accepted her award at the annual PTK Catalyst Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, where honor society members from around the globe networked, engaged in educational forums and participated in a speech competition.
While there, students Beixi Chen and Endri Dobrovoda each won positions for PTK executive officer positions. Chen, Bergen PTK’s director of recruitment and service, will serve as the Middle States region executive vice president for the 2026-27 academic year, while Dobrovoda, the current Bergen PTK chapter president, will serve as the Division I international vice president.
“I am really excited to get to know people around PTK’s four divisions and make an impact on the PTK honor society,” Dobrovoda said.
Additionally, Bergen Vice President of External Affairs Suzanne Wetzel received the “Distinguished College Administrator Award” at the Catalyst Conference for connecting PTK students and Bergen Community College Foundation and Alumni Network.
“I am constantly inspired by this dynamic group of students and the impactful projects they lead to support our campus and community,” she said. “It is a privilege to champion their work and help to facilitate their growth at regional and national conferences. Seeing the caliber of talent at the Catalyst Conference, I am certain they are the future leaders of our country.”
Meanwhile, in the weeks following the conference, PTK student Chennelle Brown received the “2026 World Impact Scholar” award and received a $2,500 scholarship through PTK and Coca-Cola North America. The honor recognizes outstanding community college students prepared to contribute to their local economies and workforce. Brown previously served as Bergen’s PTK chapter president during the 2024-25 academic year.
“I am elated and shocked because even though I had dedicated most of my time to PTK, I was doubtful I would receive any awards because there are so many exceptional people in the society from all across the United States and surrounding countries,” she said.
Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them grow as scholars and leaders. PTK serves more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters worldwide. Learn more at ptk.org.
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 24,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.
Photo Caption: Members of the Alpha Epsilon Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.
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