26 MTC students admitted to honor society in virtual ceremony

(Bradenton, FL—December 15, 2020) Manatee Technical College inducted 26 students into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) in a virtual ceremony that premiered on YouTube and Facebook on December 8, 2020.

Kathy Matthews led the ceremony, assisted by Xela Brutus.  Both are counselors at MTC.  Matthews is the college’s NTHS advisor and has been leading the ceremonies since MTC started holding them in 1998.

Matthews announced during the ceremony that it would be her last to conduct, as she is retiring in February 2021 after 35 years with the college.

When she had named all the students, she added one more: Marlee Kiwacz.  Matthews said it was the first time she had named an honorary member.  Kiwacz, a department secretary at MTC, has been assisting Matthews with the induction ceremonies for many years.

MTC director Dr. Valerie Viands made opening and closing remarks and congratulated all the inductees.

Inductees:  Heather Bellion, Aldair Cannarillo-Ventura, Dalyn Colmorgen, Haley Curtner, Lisa Duryea, Zaylon Freeman, Jessica Garner, Ryan Holt, Angela Horne, Joshua Hyland, Joanna Jimenez, Timothy Kimbrell, Marlee Kiwacz (honorary), Leesolee Kolokollie, Devyn Larson, Gerardo Loera-Salinas, Gustavo Mateo, Valarie Mehalko, Lee Moore, Kristine Mylett, Farshad Nejad, Alysa Oxendine, Rebecca Pearson, Robert Seguerra, Wachireporn Somlouchachai, Colt Travis, Gabriella Zaccari.

This was the second virtual NTHS induction ceremony for the college.  The first one was in April earlier in the year.