Last updated on April 22, 2026
By Francesca Ignacio
Contributing Writer
From sweeping regional elections to clinching the “Chandler” mascot, nine Gallatin students proved Phi Theta Kappa is more than a line on a resume. It is a power move.
The bass from the speakers thrummed through the floorboards of the Jackson State Community College ballroom, but for the nine students representing Volunteer State’s Gallatin campus, the music was secondary. All eyes were on a single, fuzzy object: Chandler. To an outsider, he’s just a teddy bear. To the chapters of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) across Tennessee, Chandler is the “Stanley Cup” of regional fellowship and a symbol of chapter spirit. Winning him requires more than just academic merit; it requires creativity, high energy, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.
The moment Vol State was named the song-and-dance competition winners, the energy in the room said it all. The cheers went far beyond winning a mascot. They were about a chapter that spent the entire weekend demonstrating they earned their place at the table. The 2026 PTK Regional Conference, held from February 27 through March 1, drew roughly 75 students from over a dozen community colleges.
The weekend centered on the society’s core pillars: scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. Between the various workshops and competitions, students built real connections outside their own campuses. For Vol State, it became more than just a conference. It felt like a turning point.
The Strategy Behind the Stars
For faculty advisor Professor Melanie Cochran, the weekend was the payoff for months of hard work back in Gallatin. While she’s proud of the trophies, she was much more focused on the growth and real-world experience her students took home with them. “Networking and team building are the most important,” Cochran said, reflecting on the three- day marathon of breakout sessions and programming.
“Community building was really important, and the students had a good time.” That “good time” was translated into real results. Vol Stater secured a 5-Star status, the highest ranking a chapter can achieve, and took home first place for their Honors in Action project. This is not just a trophy for a shelf; it’s a designation that places Vol State among the elite chapters in the nation. Still, one win stood out in a different way
Despite the academic accolades, Cochran observed that the students’ pulse stayed the highest for the mascot. “Very proud to win Chandler,” Cochran said. “Students are most excited about that.”
A Shift in Momentum
The biggest win of the weekend did not occur on stage. It happened at the ballot box. Three Vol State students were elected to regional leadership positions, which is a massive step forward for the Gallatin campus. Ash Wisdom, the newly elected Vice President of the West region, noted the gravity of the moment. “After 5 years, we have had officers elected from our campus for 2 consecutive years,” Wisdom said.
Joining Ash in the regional spotlight are Lindsay Agee, who will serve as the incoming regional president, and Katy Carlson, the new regional secretary. For Wisdom, the conference provided a moment of clarity during a breakout session that she believes every Vol State student needs to hear. An International Officer (IO) challenged the group with a question that redefined the “honor society” experience: “It is not always about fitting in,” Wisdom recalled. “Would you rather fit in, or would you rather belong?”
The Reality of the Road
Not every part of the trip was a highlight reel, but the hiccups are what made the weekend feel real. Public Relations Officer Paris Ford mentioned that while the lead-up trip was organized, the conference itself had some chaos when it came to communication. Directions for some sessions were a bit blurry.
Instead of getting frustrated, the group took the lead. “We tried our best to communicate with the advisors and other members as much as we could,” Ford said. “We took initiative and spoke with people.”
Even the Saturday night ball, meant to be a highlight of the second night, lacked a bit of polish. But the Vol State crew refused to let a disorganized party spoil the trip.
“We still had fun. WE made it a good time,” Ford added. Between cramped car rides and overbooked arrangements, the challenges ended up bringing the group closer together.
Impact Beyond the Conference
For Hade Rodriguez, Vice President of Fellowship, the conference was a reminder that PTK exists for more than just meetings and ceremonies. The chapter has already been on the ground with clothing drives and “cheek swab” events to help find bone marrow and stem cell matches.
“Something I didn’t know before, I wish I knew, was actually how impactful PTK can be to get things moving,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez’s advice to the Gallatin student body is simple: “If you want to make a difference, you cannot expect things to be handed to you.”
Looking Ahead
As the team returned to Gallatin, with Chandler in tow, the focus shifted from the regional stage back to our town halls. The next major event for the chapter is the PTK Induction Ceremony on April 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. For Ash Wisdom, the purpose of PTK goes beyond awards and conferences. “The mission of PTK is to build successful people not just in academic life, but also when they leave a community college to transition into a university or even a career,” Wisdom said.
The trophies may stay in glass cases, and Chandler the Bear will eventually be handed off to another school, but the fire these nine students caught in Jackson is not going anywhere. It is that internal ‘I can actually do this” kind of confidence that follows you back to the classroom and stays with you long after you have walked across the graduation stage.
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