PTK

HCC students and honor society chapter recognized

Several students and advisors from Hagerstown Community College have been recognized for their academic excellence by Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society representing two-year colleges. The individuals were recently honored during the Parade of Scholars at the PTK Catalyst Annual Convention in Kansas City, Miss.

Scott Petty, of Hagerstown, has been named a 2025 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship. Thomas Weidmyer, of Hagerstown, has been named a 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Both scholarship programs are sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Petty was also acknowledged at the PTK Catalyst Convention as a member of the Distinguished Regional Officer Team. For the past year, he has served as the Maryland/DC president for the Middle States Region. He is a cybersecurity major and plans to transfer to the SANS Technology Institute after completing as associate degree at HCC in May. He recently passed the Security+ exam and is seeking to build a career in cyber threat intelligence, threat research, or malware reverse engineering.

Weidmyer will earn a high school diploma from Smithsburg High School and an associate degree in business administration from HCC in May. He hopes to transfer to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he plans to major in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Advisors of HCC’s Pi Theta Chapter of PTK received the Distinguished Chapter Advisor Hallmark Award at the recent convention. They include Jessica Baker, allied health program manager; Alicia Drumgoole, associate professor of English; Stacy Reikowsky, assistant professor of history; and Dawn Schoenenberger, vice president of academic affairs and student services.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org.

(April 11, 2025)