2024 PTK Officer Candidates

Joshua Wellington – President

My name is Joshua Wellington and I am a second year student here at Oakland Community College. I will be entering a third year to complete my dual associates degrees of both Science and Pre-Engineering. I am applying for the office of president here at our local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. I am currently serving the remaining term as PTK treasurer and have enjoyed getting to serve as such.

My interest as president is to first and foremost offer a service-based leadership approach to our chapter that will generate a strong board of fellow officers. I hope to bring a renewed sense of vitality to our PTK chapter and offer students the ability to network beyond their weekly course schedule. I will also develop a three-part initiative for the 2024-2025 academic year. Initiative one is to start off the coming year strong by actively recruiting and networking for the remainder of the winter 2024 semester. Initiative two will be to work side by side with our newly elected officer team to embrace the mission of PTK by recognizing hard working honors students here at OCC. Initiative three will be to design and implement a sustainable recruiting system that welcomes students to accept their PTK invitation year one and form strong leadership for year two.

My goal is to help OCC students reach their maximum potential by promoting awareness of our PTK chapter and fostering an environment of service-based leadership. I will do this by creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that is receptive to new innovative ideas. Additionally, I seek to build a stronger name for our OCC chapter both regionally and abroad. Finally, I would like to seek a close partnership with Student Government to bring forth student concerns to college administration and galvanize the bond between the two student organizations.

Caroline Eagan – President

Hello, I would like to run in the Phi Theta Kappa officer election. My name is Caroline Eagan, and I would like to run for President of PTK at Oakland Community College for the upcoming term. 

I am the ideal candidate for the President of Phi Theta Kappa because I value leadership, academic excellence, and service to others. I am a dual-enrolled high school student through the Accelerated College Experience (ACE) program. The upcoming school year will be my “13th year”, so I will be a full-time college student. This aspect of who I am gives me a unique perspective on student life and exemplifies that I am intrinsically motivated to achieve academic success. As president of PTK, my largest focus will be to rebuild the chapter and create awareness of all the personal and professional growth opportunities that getting involved in PTK can provide. I plan to work with other student organizations such as the student government to help spread this awareness. I promise to work with my fellow officers to hold more general meetings and events for PTK members in an effort to make PTK more accessible.

I have significant experience across various domains. At OCC, I serve as the Community Service Officer for Student Government. Currently, I am utilizing this position to communicate with Hazel Park Schools to organize an event for OCC Student Organizations to come and promote the importance of education and getting involved to juniors and seniors. Additionally, at my high school, I am a member of the Youth Advisory Council, National Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society. These experiences have all helped me to develop my leadership, organizational, and communication skills while serving my peers and local community. I am seeking the position of PTK president to utilize the platform within this esteemed society to make a positive impact through service and to recognize and encourage scholarship among my peers.

Oliver Harris - VP of Fellowship

My name is Oliver Harris, and I am a Royal Oak High School graduate. During my time there, I honed my leadership skills as the section leader of the Drumline, captain of the Bowling Team, president of the Euchre Club, and founder and president of the Disc Golf Club. These experiences have prepared me well for the role of VP of Fellowship for PTK. I am a lifelong resident of Royal Oak and have a deep love for Oakland County. I am also an avid traveler, exploring 41 US States, 23 National Parks, 3 Canadian provinces, and 9 different countries. At OCC, I have served as an S.I. for Calc 1 at the Royal Oak Campus, helping students understand confusing material and advising collaboration and teamwork to work through problems. 

As the VP of Fellowship for PTK, I would organize events to create lasting memories and cultivate great networking opportunities to help my peers get involved on campus. I will champion the saying, "You get out of it what you put in." My main objective in this role will be to increase student engagement in the chapter.
I eagerly anticipate the upcoming term and the opportunities for the officer team. I am confident that we can significantly impact the PTK chapter together.

Lisa Bica Grodsky - VP of Scholarship

Lisa is a returning college student, after a long hiatus, she is taking advantage of Michigan Reconnect and Oakland80 to complete her Associate Degree. Her program of study is Mental Health/Social Work. 

She is employed full-time with Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) as a Program Operations Manager, working primarily with older adults and kinship care families. In tandem with studies at OCC, she is also working on a Certificate in Grandfamily Leadership from UMaine Center on Aging.   Lisa is married with two children, and in her free time, enjoys traveling, music, and bowling and spending time with their Yorkipoo which the family rescued from a local shelter in 2019.

VP of Leadership - Ayisha Sabahat

Hello, my name is Ayisha Sabahat, I am a student at OCC and currently pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene. Since joining OCC in 2022, I have been working with great dedication to complete the prerequisites for the program. My passion for Dental Hygiene comes from my strong belief in transforming people's lives by giving them a confident smile. I find studies at OCC incredibly rewarding and take pride in being an active member of the student body. Having lived in Thailand and Pakistan, I have developed a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives and experiences. I am fluent in English, Urdu, and Thai. In my free time, I indulge in painting and listening to music. I love painting, such as calligraphy and scenery.

I am seeking the position in PTK, as a vice president of leadership as I am eager to become more involved with the college community. Over the past year, I have actively participated in the Student Government and the Peer Mentoring Program during the winter of 2024. OCC has offered me an exceptional learning environment, and I aspire to create the same experience for all students. Being part of the incredible group will undoubtedly enhance my college experience, and the memories will remain with me for a lifetime.