Herkimer College students named to Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team

Herkimer County Community College students Alexander Fowler and Kaitlyn Jenks have been named to the All-New York Academic Team for Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an international honor society for community colleges.

Members of the PTK All-New York team are recognized for their demonstrated academic excellence, leadership accomplishments, and engagement in community service.

Alexander Fowler, a senior Liberal Arts & Sciences: General Studies, A.S student from New Hartford, NY, has maintained academic excellence and was named to the President’s List every semester while attending Herkimer College. He serves as president of the College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International and is captain of the 2021 men’s lacrosse team.

Fowler was also nominated to be a student body representative for the College’s critical re-accreditation review visit.  As a student representative, Fowler participated in interviews with a review team from the accrediting agency, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which contributed to the successful outcome of the review process and the full re-accreditation of the Herkimer College. He plans to pursue a degree in economics at St. Lawrence University, where he has also been accepted to play on the men’s lacrosse team.

Kaitlyn Jenks, a senior Communication and Media, A.S. student from Canajoharie, NY, has maintained academic excellence and was named to the President’s List every semester while attending Herkimer College. She also enrolled in additional courses over the winter and summer terms.  Jenks serves as vice president of chapter growth for the College’s chapter of PTK and as a senator in the College’s Student Government Association. She works as a peer tutor in the College’s Academic Support Center, and she is an editor for both The General, Herkimer College’s student-run online news outlet, and Phaethon, the College’s annual literary magazine.

Outside of her various activities on campus, Jenks also volunteers with The Shadow Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to make school more accessible and engaging for young students with learning disabilities. Jenks helps ensure students receive incentive awards for reaching specified academic and learning goals, and she assists the organization’s communications department with creative outreach and innovation initiatives.