San Antonio College PTK Chapter Named Top College Chapter, Earns Highest International Honor

San Antonio College is proud to celebrate a milestone achievement for its Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter, which was recently recognized with several prestigious awards at the PTK regional and international level. Among them: the Distinguished Chapter International Hallmark Award—the highest honor a chapter can receive from the international organization.

This elite designation places San Antonio College’s chapter among the top-performing chapters across the globe and reflects outstanding achievement in all areas of Phi Theta Kappa’s mission: scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.

In addition to this international distinction, SAC’s chapter also earned recognition as a Top College Chapter and received a College Project Regional Award for an initiative that strengthened campus engagement and student success.

“What these awards mean is we worked hard and did an outstanding job,” said PTK President Inkar Bakhytzhanova. “It was a complete team effort, and I am so proud of the amazing ideas people brought to the table and how hard we all worked together through every step.”

Bakhytzhanova said that while working on the college chapter project that earned them top chapter, students worked closely with leaders at SAC – including Interim President Dr. Francisco Solis – to discuss their vision and bring it to life. “It gave us an opportunity early in [our educational journey] to work with people at the highest level, which was an amazing experience.”

“These students have set a new standard of excellence,” said PTK Advisor Dr. Jim Lucchelli. “To receive the Distinguished Chapter award is an incredible accomplishment that represents hard work, vision, and heart. It shows the world what is possible when students lead with purpose and a deep commitment to their community.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges, and its awards program recognizes the top chapters from more than 1,200 worldwide. Earning the Distinguished Chapter title means a chapter has excelled in both its College Project and Honors in Action project, which together demonstrate student leadership, research, service, and collaboration.

“These awards speak volumes about the strength and passion of our PTK students,” added Lucchelli. “They are ambassadors of academic excellence and service. We are immensely proud of what they’ve accomplished and how they represent SAC.”

The PTK chapter at SAC has long been a home for driven, high-achieving students. This year’s accomplishments reinforce the chapter’s standing as a model of what two-year college students can achieve on a global stage.

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