Students and faculty from Dallas College North Lake were recognized for leadership, academic achievement and service at the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Catalyst convention held recently in Baltimore.
Subah Saiara Ahmed, a student leader at the North Lake Campus, advanced to the semi-finals for a PTK International Officer position. Competing against dozens of students from across the country, Ahmed was one of only four candidates selected to the semi-final round for her position.
Though she did not move on to the final round, Ahmed described the experience as a pivotal moment in her collegiate career.
“Being on that stage was more than just a competition to me,” Ahmed said. “I met students from different chapters, made connections and realized I could make an impact not just with my chapter, but on an international level. Even though I didn’t move forward, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and it taught me to never stop believing in myself and fighting for my dreams.”
Other North Lake students earned individual distinctions for their contributions to the
campus chapter. Joseph Assani received the Distinguished Chapter Member award, an honor given to only 50 students internationally. Fernanda Hernandez was named a Distinguished Chapter Officer, a title awarded to a select group of leaders chosen from hundreds of nominees worldwide.
The convention also highlighted significant financial support for North Lake scholars. Valentine Anuligo was awarded the Guistwhite Scholarship, a $5,000 grant given to high-achieving PTK members to assist in their transition to four-year universities.
Faculty mentorship was also a focus of the convention. Dr. Sherry Boyd, a long-time adviser for the North Lake chapter, earned PTK’s Continued Excellence Award for Advisers. The national award recognizes advisers who have provided years of mentorship and have been instrumental in fostering student success.
The annual PTK Catalyst convention serves as a national hub for community college students and advisors to share leadership strategies and engage in professional development.
