In Baltimore and Washington, Students Honed their Leadership Skills
and Met with Congressman Adriano Espaillat
New York, N.Y. (May 4, 2026) – Building on their strongest performance to date at the New York State Phi Theta Kappa Honors Regional Conference, members of Guttman Community College’s Beta Phi Gamma Chapter traveled to Baltimore to represent the College at the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) National Catalyst Conference.
The conference provided student leaders with valuable opportunities for academic enrichment, leadership development and networking. A highlight of the event was a keynote address by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, whose remarks inspired attendees to pursue impactful leadership roles in their communities.
“The 2026 PTK Catalyst Conference was truly a special experience, and it made me want to take even greater advantage of opportunities like this in the future,” said PTK Secretary Callista Wilkie.
As a part of the trip, Guttman Community College President Elizabeth de León Bhargava organized a day visit to Washington, D.C., where PTK officers toured the United States Supreme Court and the United States Capitol. During their visit to Capitol Hill, students also met with New York City Congressman Adriano Espaillat, gaining firsthand insight into the workings of political processes.
“At Guttman, we believe education extends beyond the classroom. Seeing our students connect with elected officials and witness our democratic institutions in action was deeply inspiring. My hope is that this visit helps them imagine themselves as public servants, changemakers, and contributors to a vibrant civic life,” said President de León Bhargava.
Reflecting on the experience, PTK President Celia Sierra and Vice President Brad Lynch shared that the tours and meeting expanded their knowledge of our country’s history as well as current events.
Guttman’s PTK delegation to the Catalyst Conference was led by President Celia Sierra and Co-Advisors Associate Director Diana Zechowski and Assistant Professor Samuel Finesurrey.
The trip marked the culmination of a year of dedicated work by Guttman’s student leaders, contributing to what has become the College’s most successful year in Phi Theta Kappa to date. In addition to winning seven awards at the New York State Conference in March, the chapter was named the 3rd Most Distinguished Chapter in New York State — the highest placement the chapter has achieved — out of approximately 50 chapters statewide. Additionally, they continue to maintain Five-Star Chapter status.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College is CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years. Reimagining what community college could be, Guttman opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012 to create a research-based, innovative model focused on moving students efficiently toward graduation. Offering associate degree programs in a nurturing environment, the College provides holistic support and advising to ensure timely degree completion, and most graduates transfer to senior colleges. Guttman was named the best community college in America in 2020 and the top community college in New York State in 2020 and 2021 by Niche.com, and WalletHub ranked Guttman the #1 community college in New York State for 2025.
