Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges

Ethan Trautman is a Nursing Student at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. He is serving as the President of the Xi Alpha Chapter for the 2022-2023 academic year. He was also formerly the Vice President of New England PTK for the 2021-2022 academic year. Last year, Ethan was the Valedictorian of Berkshire Community College. Ethan will be graduating again with an Associate Degree in Nursing this spring. He enjoys playing hockey, hiking, and strategy games in his free time. He also has an identical twin who is currently studying Math at Vanderbilt University. After graduation, Ethan will work as a Registered Nurse in Oncology at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. He plans on attending the University Of Alaska Anchorage, his parents’ alma mater, to complete his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Ethan Trautman, Berkshire Community College

Carissa Crossley is a student at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts. She is currently studying prerequisite courses for the Regis College Bachelor of Nursing program which she has been accepted to enter in the Fall of 2023. She earned her Associates of Arts degree from Palm Beach Community College in May of 2022. She is the Chief Officer of Public Relations for Phi Theta Kappa Club at Bristol. Her responsibilities include managing all marketing and social media publications. Carissa is a pioneer of dance therapy at Bristol Community College, where she curated, organized, and participated in leading several Ecstatic Dance events. Her drive to become a nurse practitioner is rooted in her compassion for the suffering of others. Carissa is a single mother who sees generational wealth in education. Some of her favorite hobbies include sailing, camping, and volunteering for the Fall River Re-Creation Sailing Program.

Carissa Crossley, Bristol Community College

Aiden Morgado is a student at Bristol Community College. His most recent job title LAL Technician at Associates of Cape Cod. He is President of Bristol’s chapter Phi Theta Kappa Club, where he enjoys planning service events, guest speaker events, and extracurricular events. Some examples include ecstatic dance events, a Fulbright speaker event, and a podcast. Aiden will receive his associate degree in biology in May of 2023 and plans to continue education at The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he will earn a bachelor’s degree. He is passionate about biological systems, and he finds works by Robert Sapolsky and Andrew Huberman at Stanford to be especially interesting. As a biologist, he hopes to earn at least a master’s degree and become involved in neurobiology as a passion and research concentration. Aiden is eternally grateful to those who help him succeed.

Aiden Morgado, Bristol Community College

Jamila Chbib currently attends Bunker Hill Community College and has been a member of the local Alpha Kappa Mu Chapter since March 2022. She has held the office of Vice President of Scholarship since December of 2022. Notable duties included speaking to new members about the opportunities of scholarship in PTK, as well as assisting in inductee services. She also took the time to compile a simple scholarship flyer that gives PTK members assistance in where to go online for federal, and state grants as well as what local honors and PTK scholarships are available. In addition, she has had some input in developing programs for students returning to a more normal college life after Covid. Some activities include a crotchet circle that has recently come to its completion on campus and an on-campus coffee/cocoa breaktime that took place earlier in the new year.

Jamila Chbib, Bunker Hill Community College

Magny Gisele Bohui Epse Breguhe is from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. A candidate for an associate in arts in Business at Bunker Hill Community College, Bohui has already achieved significant academic success. Her hard work and dedication have been rewarded with multiple grants from the PepsiCo Foundation and membership in several prestigious organizations, including Phi Theta Kappa, the Commonwealth Honors Program and The National Society of Leadership and Success. In addition to her accomplishments, Bohui was named a semi-finalist for the national and prestigious Jack Kent Cook Scholarship this year.

Nurturing the dream of creating a consulting company that can help individuals, businesses and organizations meet their financial challenges, Bohui is determined to develop a leadership that allows it to have a real impact in the world of finance, and Phi Theta Kappa’s Leadership Development Studies program perfectly meets her ambitions.

Admitted to Suffolk University and Northeastern University, Bohui is promised a bright future and undertakes to continue her studies with a view to obtaining a bachelor’s degree in finance. Thanks to her dedication, intelligence and ambition, there is no doubt that she will achieve great things in her chosen field.

Magny Gisele Bohui Epse Breguhe, Bunker Hill Community College

Makayla Crowley is a 20 year old student studying Communications at Cape Cod Community College. After graduating with her Associates degree, she is going to further her education by attending Western Carolina University to complete her Bachelor’s degree. At 4Cs, Makayla is involved in Phi Theta Kappa, The Debate Club, and The Mainsheet School Newspaper, all while working as a medical receptionist and social media manager. She was also recently nominated for The National Society of Leadership and Success. In her free time she likes to write poetry, listen to podcasts, and research self improvement. Makayla is a first generation college student with a passion for helping people know they are capable of their dreams.  She is always looking out for ways to be a better human, and hopes to make a significant impact on society as a whole.

Makayla Crowley, Cape Cod Community College

Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver

As an avid lover of nature and literature, Caitlin Grosso has dreamed of becoming a writer since elementary school. From a young age, she wrote short fantasy stories about her explorations and observations of the world around her as she grew up in Yarmouth, Massachusetts with her family. She graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in 2018 and attended Cape Cod Community College in 2019, where she left with a Medical Assisting Certificate and an A.A. in English in December 2022. Grosso was highly involved at 4C’s: She became a Peer Tutor, Supplemental Instructor, and Peer Mentor. She also wrote for the college’s student-run newspaper, the MainSheet, partook in Honors research, and briefly served as the Secretary of the Creative Writing Club. Grosso is now pursuing a B.A. in English at UMass Lowell and aims to study law or medicine once she graduates. With her passion for writing at the core of her life, she also hopes to one day publish her creative works. Caitlin is also receiving recognition for earning Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver.

Caitlin Grosso, Cape Cod Community College

Maggie Brisbois graduated from Greenfield Community College in January of 2023 with an Associate in Liberal Arts. Maggie started at Greenfield Community College in the fall of 2020 as a dual enrollment student and has enjoyed all of her time spent at the college. She was also very involved in the student government within the college through serving as a student senator and as student trustee. Maggie has also contributed to campus by working in the admissions office giving tours to prospective students and working on the activities council. Maggie is currently continuing her education by pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at Smith College and intends to major in history or environmental science. Outside of school she enjoys spending time outdoors and volunteering with various organizations.

Maggie Brisbois, Greenfield Community College

Ray Thann is from Amherst and grew up in Shutesbury and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. He has been a performer since elementary school, staying in during recess to perform lip sync karaoke for other kids as well as putting on skits. Ray performed in such plays as The Tempest and Cabaret, while also choreographing dance pieces in Dance Theater Ensemble and performing in a hip hop dance crew. Along with pursuing his place in the film industry, Ray is a business major and will attend Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst after graduating from Greenfield this spring.

Rathana Thann, Greenfield Community College

Eva is a chemistry major in their final semester at Holyoke Community College. As a Success Ambassador in the Student Ambassador Mentorship Program, Eva serves as a peer-mentor to 8 of their fellow HCC students. Passionate about LGBTQ+ advocacy, Eva serves as the President of the Rainbow Forward and a member of the LGBTQ Task Force at HCC. Eva has dedicated themselves to making HCC a trans-inclusive campus and has worked closely with faculty, students, staff and the administration at HCC to ensure that everyone on campus feels welcome and respected. Eva has been honored with the Excellence in Leadership Award and Teamwork Award for their involvement on campus.

Eva’s passion for science is evident through their work in the community and on campus. Eva was accepted into the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars Program and is in the National Science Foundation STEM Seminar. Due to their work in this seminar, Eva will be spending this summer studying green chemistry and science policy in Washington D.C. They hope to graduate from a 4 year college with a major in chemistry and a minor in sustainability. Afterwards they hope to go to grad school where they can become an expert in climate change research and green chemistry.

Eva is passionate about increasing diversity in STEM and working towards sustainability. In their down time they enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, making jewelry and watching Star Trek.

Eva Sweeney, Holyoke Community College