VCCS academic all-stars honored at springtime luncheon

"'No' was not an option." Students who have demonstrated leadership and earned top grades at Virginia's Community Colleges shared their challenges, experiences and hopes when they gathered last week in Richmond for the VCCS All-Virginia Academic Team Awards Program. The event was held under the auspices of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.

Caring for three children under the age of 8, single mom Kirstin Gray says great support from faculty and staff at Eastern Shore Community College has been essential to her academic success. "Eastern Shore is like a second home to me," she said, "I have nursing classes and clinicals on top of two jobs and the kids. It's been a struggle sometimes, but I want to be a good role model and show it's never too late to go back to school. 'No' was not an option."

Gray was among dozens of VCCS students from across Virginia honored April 17 under the auspices of Phi Theta Kappa, which recognizes community college students for scholarship, leadership and commitment to public service.

"I'm just honored to be here. I still can't believe it!" Liselle Morning, an immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, is the first person in her family to attend college. She says she found great support at Rappahannock Community College, and is on her way to graduate next spring, with plans to continue her studies to become a clinical psychologist. The mother of four said, "I had moments when I wanted to give up, but my advisors kept pushing and encouraging me."

The Top Ten All-Virginia Academic Team, below, received the highest ratings from PTK's international program. These students also received scholarships from the Coca-Cola Foundation. Seen with VCCS Chancellor David Doré, they are, l. to r., Shane Smith, VPCC; Kelsey Messer, SWCC; Megan Rickett, MGCC; Javier Sagastume, NOVA; Rachael Elhart, PVCC; Dr. Doré, Reagan Young, NRCC; David Shomo, BRCC; Brionne Harper, Germanna; and Sydney Patton, LRCC. Not pictured: Shawna Kimsey, Germanna.

"Germanna Community College has been a great fit for me," said PTK honoree Joshua Smith. Graduating this spring with an associate degree in biology, Smith plans to become a physician and knows he got a good start on higher education without running up big college debt. "That's been important to me, and community college also has offered the flexibility to pursue my studies along with doing volunteer work with a local rescue squad and at as a hospital E.R. tech."

"Professors and staffers at Virginia Highlands have been so helpful and really cared about my success," said associate degree seeker Jarad Helbert, who plans to work in early childhood education. "I'm interested in the role that education plays in helping children self-actualize. And I'm grateful my local community college was there to help me get a high-quality education."

Evelyn Turner of Paul D. Camp Community College joined growing numbers of adults who are turning to our colleges seeking skills and training to advance their careers. Turner will receive her associate degree in Criminal Justice in December with a goal of steering young people away from violence and crime. "You just have to be committed, and your family must understand that you're working not just for yourself but for them, too," she said.

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Sharp has earned PTK honors on his way to securing early progress in higher education. Sharp will graduate from high school this spring even as he earns his associate degree from Laurel Ridge Community College. "I want to be a special education teacher because my family has benefited from this profession," said Sharp. "Being enrolled at Laurel Ridge has given me a great head start and it feels like a great accomplishment."

Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.3 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation's colleges. The Phi Theta Kappa Foundation awards $1.5 million in scholarships to members each year, and four-year college partners now offer $250 million in transfer scholarships exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members.

You can download the program for this year's PTK awards event here.

You can view and download photos from this year's PTK honors event here.

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