The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (VR) — Mountain Gateway Community College is proud to announce that student MacKenzie Carter has been honored as the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Regional Officer of the Year for the Virginia/West Virginia region. The prestigious award was presented at the recent PTK annual regional meeting, recognizing Carter’s exceptional leadership and commitment to the honors society’s mission.
The second-year business student and native of Covington, Virginia, Carter serves as the President of the Alpha Eta Omicron Chapter at Mountain Gateway and recently concluded her term as the PTK Regional Social Media Officer. During her tenure, she was instrumental in enhancing the region’s digital presence and fostering engagement among chapters across two states.
“Phi Theta Kappa has helped me grow as a leader and build connections that will stay with me beyond college,” Carter said. “Receiving this recognition means so much to me, as it reflects the work, dedication, and passion I’ve put into serving others and making a difference within my college and community.”
The Regional Officer of the Year award is a highly competitive distinction, given to a student who demonstrates a profound impact on their region through service, communication, and organizational excellence. Carter’s dual role as a local chapter president and a regional officer highlighted her ability to manage complex responsibilities while maintaining a focus on student success.
Looking forward, Carter plans to transfer to a four-year university to continue her education in Business.
ABOUT Phi Theta Kappa: Headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in higher education with nearly 1,300 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, plus Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates, and U.S. territorial possessions. More than 3.8 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with over 250,000 active members annually.
The mission of PTK is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of college students while providing opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service, and fellowship programming.
ABOUT MGCC: Founded in 1962 and located in the Alleghany Highlands region of Central Virginia, Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) is a two-year public institution of higher education and one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. Mountain Gateway Community College operates two educational campuses, the Clifton Forge campus and the Rockbridge Regional Center in Buena Vista. MGCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees.
Mountain Gateway Community College is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Northern Botetourt, and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington. For more information about Mountain Gateway Community College, please visit MGCC.edu
