Skip to main content
How can we help?
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College desktop logoDabney S. Lancaster Community College mobile logo

Top Menu

  • myMGCC
  • Apply Now
  • Workforce Solutions
  • About
  • Giving
  • Course Schedule
  • Events Calendar
  • CARES Act Institutional Funds
  • Attend
  • Pay
  • Programs & Careers
  • Student Support
  • Locations
How can we help?
  • A

    • About
    • About MGCC
    • Academic & Career Advising
    • Academic Calendar
    • Accreditation
    • Achievement Center
    • Additional Financial Aid Resources
    • Alumni
    • America’s Promise Grant
    • Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination
    • Apply for Financial Aid
    • Apply Now
    • Apply to MGCC
    • Assessment Resources
    • Attend
  • B

    • Brand Guidelines
    • Business Office
  • C

    • Campus Emergency
    • Campus Safety & Security
    • Career Services Center
    • CARES Act
    • CARES Act - Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students
    • Catalog and Student Handbook
    • Clifton Forge Campus
    • Code of Ethics
    • Commencement
    • Connect with Alumni & Friends
    • Consumer Information & Disclosures
    • Contact Information
    • Contact Workforce
    • Course Schedule
    • COVID-19 Information & Resources
    • Customized Business Training
  • D

    • Direct Enrollment
    • Disbursement
    • Distance Education
  • E

    • Educational Foundation
    • Educational Talent Search
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Events
    • Expressive Activity
  • F

    • Fall Reopening Plan FAQs
    • FastForward at MGCC
    • Federal Student Aid
    • Financial Aid for Short-Term Training
    • Financial Aid Forms
    • FOIA - Public Records
    • Forest Management Technology with Specialization in Arboriculture and Community Forestry
    • Foundation Board and Staff
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • G

    • G3 Scholarships
    • Giving
    • Graduation
  • H

    • High School & Home-Schooled Students
  • J

    • Jackson River Governor’s School
  • L

    • Library
    • Library Services
    • List of Scholarships
    • Local Board
    • Locations
  • M

    • Medallion of Merit
    • Meet Our President
    • MGCC Alerts
    • MGCC Bookstore
    • MGCC Clubs and Student Organizations
    • MGCC Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program
    • MGCC Org. Chart
    • MGCC Real Estate Foundation
    • MGCC Response Fund
    • MGCC Roadrunner Café
    • MGCC Strategic Plan
    • Mission
  • N

    • New Students
    • Nondiscrimination Policy and Contact Information
  • O

    • Official Transcripts and Records
  • P

    • Pay
    • Personal Interest and Enrichment Programs
    • Policies
    • PreProdChatbot
    • President's Blog
    • Privacy Policy
    • Programs & Careers
    • Public Wi-Fi Directory
  • R

    • Renaming FAQs
    • Resources
    • REV Up Your Career at MGCC
    • Rockbridge Regional Center
  • S

    • Satellite Locations
    • Scholarships
    • Single Stop
    • Special interest and non-credit courses
    • Student Activities
    • Student Support
    • Style Guide
  • T

    • Technical Services
    • Technical Studies - Associate of Applied Science Degree
    • Testing Center
    • Threat Assessment Team
    • Title IX, Clery Act, VAWA
    • Transfer Students
    • Tuition Rates
    • Tuition Refunds
  • t

    • test
  • V

    • Veteran Services
  • W

    • Ways to Give
    • Wilson Workforce Center
    • Workforce Solutions
    • Writing Center
    • WVA Reciprocity Agreement

News

View All News

 


Mountain Gateway Community College Students Honored at Annual PTK Luncheon and Catalyst Convention

 

Clifton Forge, VA — On April 16, 2025, Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) proudly hosted the annual Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholars Luncheon, a distinguished event recognizing academic excellence across the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). As the organizing institution for this statewide celebration, MGCC welcomed members of PTK from across the Commonwealth to honor their achievements and leadership.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges, symbolizing excellence in higher education and a commitment to students. PTK has recognized and encouraged academic achievements among two-year college students for more than 100 years by providing stimulation and enrichment while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. 

This year’s Luncheon celebrated members of the All-Virginia Academic Team, the 2025 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team, and the Top Ten All-Virginia Academic Team..

Among the honorees was MGCC student Catherine (Cat) Young, who received multiple accolades. Cat was named to the Top Ten All-Virginia Academic Team, the All-Virginia Academic Team, and earned the distinguished title of Coca-Cola Silver Scholar on the 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team. She will receive a $1,250 scholarship, awarded based on her score in the national All-USA Academic Team competition, which received nearly 2,100 applications this year.

“I am so very proud of all our PTK members, who have worked diligently for the honor of being part of PTK,” said Rachael Thompson, PTK Co-Advisor. “These students are dedicated students and highly involved PTK members; more importantly, they both embody the spirit of service that is of the utmost importance in PTK. PTK is about achievement – both in the classroom and in the communities we serve.”

Also recognized at the luncheon was Kinley Willis, an All-Virginia Academic Team member and President of MGCC’s PTK chapter. Kinley has provided leadership and support throughout the year and was instrumental in representing MGCC at the event.

“As I reflected on my own journey, I couldn’t help but feel especially proud to be one of the few nursing students honored at the luncheon,” Kinley said. “Balancing the demands of a rigorous nursing program with being President of PTK hasn’t always been easy, but moments like this made every challenge worth it. Being recognized among so many high-achieving students reminded me that academic excellence comes in many forms. It was a powerful reminder that I belong in both the classroom and the wider world of leadership, and I left Richmond more motivated than ever to continue pursuing both my nursing career and my role as a student leader.”

Beyond the luncheon, several MGCC students took part in PTK Catalyst, Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention held April 3–5 in Kansas City, Missouri. Cat Young attended and joined fellow Coca-Cola Academic Team scholars on stage during the Parade of Scholars at the Hallmark Awards Gala.

“PTK Catalyst helped to introduce me to other officers and chapter members in the Virginia and West Virginia region who I hadn't gotten the chance to meet before then,” Cat said as she reflected on her experience. “It also puts into perspective how big PTK really is, and how many members across the country there are that have shared similar struggles as me to get to where they are now. I found that a lot of the stories told by the speakers resonated with my own, and it was nice to know I am far from alone.”

MacKenzie Carter, another MGCC representative, also attended Catalyst and currently serves as the Virginia/West Virginia Regional Social Media Officer. Her involvement at the regional level underscores her leadership and engagement within PTK.

“As a non-traditional student, I felt I was alone when going through my community college journey. Phi Theta Kappa has taught me this is far from the case,” MacKenzie said. “After attending Catalyst, I was able to connect with a network of hard-working individuals, many in the same emotional boat as me. Phi Theta Kappa welcomes and recognizes these students, while offering a wide range of opportunities. To me, Phi Theta Kappa is more than an honor society, but a community that promotes and celebrates personal and educational growth.”

Mountain Gateway Community College is honored to support and celebrate the exceptional achievements of its PTK students. Through events like the Scholars Luncheon and PTK Catalyst, MGCC reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and student success.

For more information about PTK, contact Lee Anne Bowling at labowling@mgcc.edu or Rachael Thompson at rthompson@mgcc.edu.


##



 

Dr. John Rainone, President of Mountain Gateway Community College, addresses attendees at the Phi Theta Kappa Scholars Luncheon on April 16, 2025, celebrating academic excellence and student leadership across Virginia's community colleges. MGCC proudly organized the event.

 

Attendees from across the Commonwealth gather for the Annual Phi Theta Kappa Luncheon on April 16, 2025, organized by Mountain Gateway Community College. The annual event honored the academic achievements and leadership of PTK members from Virginia’s community colleges.

Tags
Phi Theta Kappa
PTK Luncheon. Student Success

  • - Any -
  • ADN
  • Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce
  • Business Administration
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Clubs
  • Community Education
  • Community Service
  • Course Evaluations
  • CPL
  • Dance
  • Educator of the Year
  • Enroll
  • Fall Registration
  • Fees
  • Hammond Grant
  • JRGS
  • Late Start Courses
  • Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
  • Liberal Arts
  • Media Club
  • MGCC Library
  • MGCC Vice President's List
  • Mountain Gateway Community College Educational Foundation
  • Phi Theta Kappa
  • Poet Laureate
  • PTK Luncheon. Student Success
  • Research Fair
  • Rockbridge County Public Schools
  • Rural Guided Pathways
  • Spring
  • Spring 2025
  • Staff Spotlight
  • Student Spotlight
  • Summer Registration
  • Technical Studies
  • Theater
  • Transfer Virginia
  • VMFA
  • Wilson Cup
  • Writing
  • Academics
  • Adult Education
  • Adult Learning
  • AHA
  • AHPS
  • AHTI
  • Alumni
  • AP220
  • Appalachian CareerForge
  • Appalachian Hardwood Training Initiative
  • Apply
  • Archery
  • Aromatherapy
  • Arts
  • Athletic
  • Bookstore
  • Buena Vista
  • Business
  • Cafe
  • Career Center
  • Career Fair
  • Career Services Center
  • CCST
  • CDL
  • Certification
  • Chemistry
  • Class of 2024
  • Commencement
  • Community
  • Community Events
  • Community Partnerships
  • Community Resources
  • Computer Science
  • Construction
  • Contribution
  • Cooking
  • COVID
  • Credit Courses
  • Cubby Closet
  • Culinary
  • Culinary Arts
  • CyberPatriot
  • Cybersecurity
  • MGCC Promise Students
  • Dental
  • Diesel Mechanic
  • Distinguished Alumni
  • Distinguished Alumni Award
  • Donor Appreciation
  • Donor Scholar Reception
  • Drone Technology
  • DSLCC Forestry
  • DSLCC Local Board
  • DSLCC Professor Emeritus
  • DSLCC Renaming
  • DSLCC Student Services
  • Dual Enrollment
  • Early College
  • Ecology
  • Education
  • Educational Foundation
  • Electrical & Instrumentation
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • EMS
  • EMT
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Events
  • Faculty
  • FastForward
  • Financial Aid
  • Food
  • Food Pantry
  • Forestry
  • Foundation
  • Fundraising
  • G3
  • Gary Lee Millar
  • Gaunlet
  • GED
  • Giving Tuesday
  • Governor's School
  • Graduation
  • Greater Roanoke Works
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • HyFlex
  • In-Service
  • Information Systems Technology
  • Information Technology
  • IST
  • IT
  • Jackson River Governor's School
  • Job Fair
  • Lab School
  • Lewisburg
  • Lexington
  • LPN
  • Lumos
  • Mary Baldwin
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Mental Health
  • MG-TEC
  • MG-TEC IT Academy
  • MGCC
  • MGCC Alumni
  • MGCC Athletics
  • MGCC Culinary
  • MGCC Cybersecurity
  • MGCC Dual Enrollment
  • MGCC Educational Foundation
  • MGCC EMT
  • MGCC Enrollment
  • MGCC eSports
  • MGCC Faculty
  • MGCC FastForward
  • MGCC FastForward
  • MGCC Fund Raising
  • MGCC Graduates
  • MGCC Instructor
  • MGCC Instructors
  • MGCC IT
  • MGCC Massage
  • MGCC Medallion of Merit
  • MGCC Nursing Students
  • MGCC Partnership
  • MGCC Partnerships
  • MGCC President's List
  • MGCC PTK
  • MGCC Real Estate Foundation
  • MGCC Sports
  • MGCC Student Success
  • MGCC Students
  • MGCC Success
  • MGCC Summer School
  • MGCC Talent Search
  • MGCC TRIO Student Support
  • MGCC Welding
  • MGCC Welding
  • MGCC Workforce
  • MGCC Workforce
  • MGCC Workforce Center
  • Miles for Meals
  • MLT
  • Moomaw Center
  • Mountain Gateway Community College
  • NCCER
  • New Student Orientation
  • News & Notes
  • NISOD
  • Non-Credit
  • Non-Profit
  • Nonprofit
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Pinning
  • Nursing Students' Association
  • Online
  • OSHA
  • Pandemic
  • Partnership
  • Partnerships
  • Phi Thete Kappa
  • Philanthropy
  • Phlebotomy Technician
  • Photography
  • Pinning Ceremony
  • Practical Nursing
  • Programs
  • PTK
  • Radford University
  • Registration
  • RN
  • Roadrunner
  • Roadrunner Cafe
  • Roadrunner Promise
  • Rockbridge County
  • Rockbridge County High School
  • Rockbridge Regional Center
  • SACSCOC
  • Safety and Security
  • Scholarships
  • ServSafe
  • Skilled Trades
  • Sports
  • Spring Registration
  • Staff
  • Student Achievement
  • Student Activities
  • Student Resources
  • Student Success
  • Students
  • Study Abroad
  • Summer Camps
  • Summer Regional Governor's School
  • Talent Search
  • Tartan Transfer
  • Teaching
  • Technology
  • Tennis
  • Total Action for Progress
  • Transfer
  • TRIO
  • Truck Driving Schools
  • Tuition
  • VCCS
  • Veterans
  • Virginia FFA
  • Welding
  • Wilson Workforce Center
  • Workforce Solutions
SHOW MORE

Contact Us

Dabney S. Lancaster Community College

  •  facebook
  •  twitter
  •  instagram
  •  flickr
  •  youtube
  •  linkedin
  • Campus Safety & Security
  • Contact Information
  • FOIA
  • Jobs at MGCC
  • Title IX
  • Privacy Policy
  • Alerts
  • Intranet
  • VA Wizard
  • COVID-19 Information & Resources
©2025 All rights reserved
eVA logo
  • Consumer Information & Disclosures

This initiative is 100% supported by a federal U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) award made to Dabney S. Lancaster Community College by the pass-through entity, Virginia Community College System. The total program cost for this initiative is $47,000.