Two members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Gadsden State Community College have earned accolades for outstanding academic achievement as well as college and community service. Collins Davis and Chase Lopas were selected for the Phi Theta Kappa All-Alabama Academic Team.
All-Alabama Academic Team members are nominated by faculty and reviewed by a selection committee. To be eligible, students must have a 3.25 minimum GPA, complete at least 12 hours at the nominating college and be involved in campus activities. Each community college in Alabama nominates two students for the team. Davis and Lopas each received $1,000 for earning the award.
Davis, a native of Southside, will receive an associate degree in general studies from Gadsden State in May.
“I’m glad that I made the decision to enroll at Gadsden State,” said Davis, who started at Gadsden State as a dual enrollment student. “I chose Gadsden State because I knew it would open doors for me to achieve my goals and aspirations.”
Davis said it was a surreal and joyful experience when he was recognized as a member of the All-Alabama Academic Team.
“Being named one of the top students in the state was a huge honor,” he said. “Receiving this award gave me a sense of accomplishment for the hard work I put in this year towards my academics and my career goals. It was a huge honor to be recognized for such a prestigious achievement.”
Davis, who serves as president of the Rho Rho Chapter of PTK, recently attended PTK Catalyst, an annual convention for PTK. At the convention, he was recognized as a 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar. He was humbled by the award and said he enjoyed his time at the PTK convention as well as his time as the leader of Gadsden State’s chapter.
“The experience had been incredibly inspiring,” he said.
Lopas of Gadsden earned a GED after being homeschooled. He said he was listless with little ambition at the time he completed high school requirements.
“I did not have goals, dreams or aspirations,” he said. “But, after enrolling at Gadsden State, I fell in love with the psychological field. I am now driven to succeed in that field by my fear of living that blasé life once again.”
At Gadsden State, Lopas has excelled as a tutor in the Cardinal Tutoring Center and worked with 18 international students with their English language acquisition. He was honored with the Student of Distinction Award and was also published in the Cardinal Arts Journal.
In May, Lopas will earn an associate degree in general studies from Gadsden State with plans to transfer to the Leiden, Netherlands, campus of Webster University, the only institution in the Netherlands to offer American-accredited degrees. He plans to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychological counseling.
“College has given me the necessary knowledge I need in the realm of psychology,” he said. “It also gives me the opportunity to connect and network with other individuals with the same mindset as myself.”
For more information about PTK and other student activities, visit www.GadsdenState.edu.
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