Honors students were inducted on Oct. 23, highlighting their participation and inclusion in San Jose City College’s honors program. Faculty and family attended the event to support the students being inducted.

The honors program provides a challenging curriculum for students who want a more in-depth educational experience. Guadalupe Alatorre, a communication studies professor at SJCC, also serves as the program’s coordinator, and she guides students in their educational journeys.

Ganna Zgama, a third-year communications major, shared how Alatorre helped her.

“She is so great with her energy…she’s not a judgemental person, she’s very supportive and she’s going to tell you how to make it work better,” Zgama said. “…She always encourages you to do more, I feel like she saw my potential and she really supported me.”

Jing Hsu, who was also being inducted, attended the ceremony with her son.

“I’m excited, and I really feel honored,” Hsu said. Her son, Kenneth, said she’s an “inspiration” and he’s “proud” of her.

Some honors students can go even further by joining the Phi Theta Kappa Beta Epsilon Nu International Honor Society. In addition to bonding with other members, PTK-BEN students who transfer to four-year institutions may have scholarships available for them.

SJCC is a PTK-BEN chapter member, so honors students may be eligible to join. Brent Baker, a third-year communications student, is the president of the SJCC chapter.

“I feel nervous, but I also feel determined to give my own personal spin on the presidency. I’m excited, I feel ambitious but also grounded and humbled,” Baker said. “I’m not full of hubris, my cohorts believe in me, my constituents choose to put their trust in me to lead this chapter and I could not be more happy.”