Middlesex Community College: CT State Middlesex Honor Society Award Entries Featured In National Journals

Press release from Middlesex Community College:

Sept. 23, 2024

Sept. 23, 2024 (Middletown, Conn.) — The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society chapter at CT State Middlesex, Beta Gamma Xi, recently published articles in two distinguished academic journals, Civic Scholar: Journal of Undergraduate Community College Research and Change Makers: Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Student Leadership.

“Congratulations to the entire Beta Gamma Xi chapter. We’re proud of your achievement. Your work inspires us and highlights the extraordinary work done by PTK members,” said Susan Edwards, Ed.D., Senior Director of Honors Programs at Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, who notified Beta Gamma Xi c0-advisor, Lin Lin, Ph.D., about the Civic Scholar selection.

The chapter’s Honors in Action team’s project Civic Scholar entry, “Nostalgia-Inspired Art: Integrating Nostalgia into Recreational Therapy,” was selected for publication as one of the 20 featured articles among 422 entries.

In the article, the chapter explores the potential needs and well-being of the adult senior population due to advancements in technology that increased their lifespans and population. The PTK students examined how nostalgia, through recreational and music therapy, fosters social connections and improves moods. They partnered with the Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Education (MILE) to conduct a session where participants shared happy memories triggered by nostalgic music. Surveys showed that most felt the activity “made the day better.”

The full Civic Scholar article is available online.

The chapter’s College Project team’s Change Makers entry, “Understanding the Needs and Interests of Students at Meriden Campus,” was chosen as one of just 17 articles from over 450 submissions featured in the fourth edition of Change Makers.

“We are incredibly proud of your students’ exceptional servant leadership in collaboration with your college administration for this College Project,” said Jennifer Stanford, Senior Director of Student Leadership at Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

The goal of the Change Makers article provides insights from student experiences at the Meriden campus to help enhance service quality in line with the CT State Middlesex student-centered mission. This involved an online survey and in-person focus groups, targeting current Meriden students and students in the GEAR UP high school program. The survey addressed academic interests, desired activities and services, and barriers to their class-taking experiences.

Read the full Change Makers article online.

“Congratulations to our students and special thanks to Dr. Lin for all she does for our PTK team,” said Kimberly Hogan, CEO, CT State Middlesex.

Earlier this year, Beta Gamma Xi was honored as the Most Distinguished Chapter in the New England Region and recognized among the Top Distinguished Chapters nationally. These projects are part of the chapter’s efforts to achieve and maintain their Five Star Level Chapter status.

Dr. Lin (program coordinator, CIS/MIS/Computer Science/Engineering/Technology), Landi Hou (computer support specialist) and Sarah Leone (math professor) are the co-advisors for the chapter and all helped contribute to their success.

More information about these projects: https://www.ptk.org/phi-theta-kappa-publishes-change-makers-student-leadership-journal/ https://www.ptk.org/phi-theta-kappa-publishes-civic-scholar-undergraduate-community-college-research-journal/

This press release was produced by Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.