MassBay Community College accounting and medical coding student Reacher Ssozi of Chelmsford, MA, has been selected for publication in the 30th edition of the prestigious Nota Bene, Phi Theta Kappa’s honors anthology. Ssozi was recognized for her poem, “The Pearl of Africa” and was chosen from more than 4,500 submissions nationwide.
“I was born in Uganda and came to America when I was young,” said Ssozi. “Writing ‘The Pearl of Africa’ was a way for me to honor my heritage and share the cultural richness of Uganda with a broader audience. The piece focuses on the beauty of the country, its people, and its significance as the ‘Pearl of Africa.’ I wanted to capture the pride I feel in my roots, while connecting that to my life here in America.”
Ssozi started taking classes at MassBay during the summer when she was still a student at Burlington High School. At the time, her mother recommended MassBay because she had taken prerequisite courses here while pursuing her degree in nursing, and with her encouragement Ssozi thought this would be a good way to experience some advanced coursework. She explained, “how much the professors cared about the students,” and “they understood the students’ needs to help them succeed.” Ssozi quickly found herself enrolled at MassBay and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society in the spring of 2024.
Ssozi added, “I’m happy I was able to inspire people because of my writing. This was an honor to be included in the Nota Bene publication.”
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is a National Honor Society recognizing the academic achievements of students at associate degree-granting colleges, helping them grow as scholars and leaders. The society has more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries. Nota Bene is the only national literary anthology showcasing excellence in writing among community college students. According to the PTK website, Nota Bene was first published in 1994 and accepts entries from PTK members in the following categories: poetry, short stories, essays, drama, and visual arts. Nota Bene takes its name from the Latin expression for “note well.”
Ssozi’s goals include earning her associate’s degree at MassBay, transferring to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and owning her own business. She is scheduled to graduate from MassBay in May 2026 with an associate’s degree in accounting and a medical coding certificate.
To read Ssozi’s “The Pearl of Africa” visit the e-publication page 21 here.
Ma'yan Tikvah 
Christa McAuliffe Center 
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