Bellevue College’s Alpha Epsilon Rho chapter of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society has earned nine awards at the national and regional levels.

Competing against Phi Theta Kappa chapters from 54 colleges in the society’s Greater Northwest Region, Bellevue College won third place in each of four categories – Most Distinguished Chapter, Service, Scholarship and Leadership – and second place for the quality of its yearbook.

Bellevue’s chapter also earned recognition as a Five-Star Chapter, officially placing it among the region’s best.

In addition, Bellevue College student Olga Cazac, of Bellevue, won the region’s Joan Fedor Alumni Scholarship, which recognizes students who are both academically strong and highly active in their community through Phi Theta Kappa.

At the national level, the college’s Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisor, Communication Studies Program Chair Katherine Oleson, of Des Moines, received the Paragon Award for New Advisors. Oleson won the same honor at the regional level, as well.

Bellevue College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter is led this year by: Wendy Kristek, of Mercer Island, president; Cecilia Dao, of Newcastle, vice president; Deniz Aydinel, an international student from Turkey currently living on Mercer Island, vice president of fellowship; William Wijaya, an international student from Indonesia, currently living on Mercer Island, vice president of service; Vicky Law, of Bellevue, vice president of leadership; Katherine Martucci, of Renton, vice president of scholarship; and Steffi Hermanto, an international student from Indonesia, currently living in Bellevue, pinnacle and communications officer.

Phi Theta Kappa’s Greater Northwest region includes colleges in Washington, Alaska, Northern Idaho, Montana and western Canada.