Members of Alpha Mu Chi, Northeast Texas Community College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, brought home major honors from the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa Texas Honors Institute held July 10–12 at Tyler Junior College. NTCC students secured four of the ten prestigious Texas Regional Scholarships awarded statewide.
The Dr. Mary Hood Texas STAR Scholarships are open to PTK members across Texas, with selections based on rigorous standards of demonstrated leadership and academic excellence.
Top Honors in Texas: José Fuentes
The highest-scoring application in the entire state earns the top scholarship named in honor of Dr. Mary Hood. This year’s top recipient was José Fuentes, a Presidential Honors Scholar in Honors Northeast majoring in psychology and Spanish.
Fuentes’s accomplishments span local, national, and international stages. Beyond participating in biological field research expeditions across Arkansas and Oklahoma, he serves as PTK's International President and was recently named the Student Representative on the PTK Board of Trustees, serving as the voice for members across the U.S. and 10 other nations. Fuentes has presented at numerous scholarly conferences, has an academic article slated for publication, and has conducted extensive bilingual archival research in Laredo for an upcoming Honors Northeast film on Mexican-American journalist and activist Jovita Idár.
"Being recognized with the Dr. Mary Hood Scholarship is a deeply humbling honor," Fuentes reflected. "Phi Theta Kappa has opened doors I never imagined, from leading our international organization to engaging in meaningful undergraduate research. Representing NTCC on the state and international level is a privilege, and I’m continuously inspired by what our Alpha Mu Chi chapter achieves together."
Recognizing Outstanding Service: Emma Mendoza
The next highest-scoring applicants receive scholarships named in honor of individual chapter advisors. Emma Mendoza was awarded the Dr. Melissa Fulgham Scholarship, named after NTCC’s long-time lead PTK advisor.
Mendoza served as chapter president this past year, steering Alpha Mu Chi to numerous regional and international accolades. She also managed Fuentes’s successful international campaign at PTK Catalyst and is an accomplished researcher in her own right. Her award-winning essay on Jovita Idár forms the core narrative for Honors Northeast’s upcoming feature film.
"When I was informed who the recipients were, I was very proud of them! I've had the pleasure of seeing firsthand how hard they have all worked, and I love to see it recognized," Mendoza shared. "I'm honored to be among them, and again, surprised and happy to know almost half of all the winners were from our chapter this year! Looking ahead, my career goal is to work in a museum, possibly as an exhibition developer or museum educator."
Future Leaders: Sky Bass & Elana Roach
Two additional Alpha Mu Chi members were awarded Texas STAR Scholarships:
Sky Bass - An accounting major entering Honors Northeast this fall, Bass serves as incoming chapter president and has been an energetic voice in Student Government and campus life.
"This is real, and I’m proud of myself," Bass expressed. "I know it will be a long journey with degrees and certifications, but I’m determined to become a forensic accountant. I chose this path because it combines my passion for business and data analysis with a career that truly gives back."
Elana Roach - Roach exemplifies leadership both in the classroom and on the field as starting goalkeeper for the NTCC Women’s Soccer Team. In her first semester, she earned First Team All-Region honors, starting 13 matches, recording 171 saves, and posting a stellar .774 save percentage.
"Balancing athletics and academics takes grit, but support from my team and PTK makes all the difference," Roach said. "Winning this scholarship proves that hard work off the field pays off just as much as effort on the pitch. I’m grateful to represent NTCC."
A Legacy of Excellence
With this year’s four recipients, 39 NTCC students have now won prestigious Texas STAR Scholarships over the chapter's decorated history.
Past NTCC Texas Regional STAR Scholarship Recipients:
- 2025: Stephani Hernandez, Yahir Garcia, Emma Mendoza, Isabel Tresidder, José Fuentes
- 2024: VanessaJane Bayna, Mary-Faith Wilson, Sarah Dierflinger, Skylar Hodson
- 2023: Michelle Calderon, Aubrey Watkins
- 2022: Jordan Chapin, Raul Leija
- 2021: Aaliyeh Avellaneda, Maxime Risner
- 2020: Elizabeth Lively, Hannah Barnes, Jalyn English, Maritza Quinones
- 2019: Tonya Hammonds, Courtney Baldwin, Jacob Lambie, Jazmin Garcia, Verania Leyva-Garza
- 2018: Hannah Dickson, Rhylie Anderson
- 2017: Rachel Jordan, Brenda Godoy
- 2016: Emmalea Shaw
- 2015: Angelica Fuentes
- 2014: Kayleah Cumpian, Tyler Reynolds
- 2013: Stephen Milburn
- 2012: Cory Myers
- 2011: John Herron
Get Involved
To learn more about Phi Theta Kappa, visit ptk.org. To learn more about NTCC’s award-winning Alpha Mu Chi chapter, visit their Facebook page or contact lead advisor Dr. Melissa Fulgham at mfulgham@ntcc.edu.
