Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College student Eric S. Place was one of 20 students chosen nationally to be part of the 2009 All-USA Community College Academic First Team. Place received his First Team Award, along with the New Centuries Scholar award, at the American Association of Community Colleges’ annual conference held April 4-7 in Phoenix, Ariz. Each member of the team is chosen based on outstanding intellectual achievement and leadership, and has received a $2,500 cash award.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Place said. “The first night of the conference, I received the New Century Scholars award. The second night, I received a plaque and a check for the First Team Award. I had people I didn’t know shaking my hand and congratulating me. I don’t normally like recognition, but that was really nice.” The annual recognition program sponsored by USA TODAY and administered by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society, honors outstanding two-year college students. PTK will award additional scholarships through the Coca-Cola All-State Academic Team program and the New Century Scholars Program, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the Coca Cola Foundation. These include scholarships worth a total of $437,500 to 350 other outstanding community college students.
Place, a student at the Jackson County Campus, was one of two Mississippians chosen for the All-USA First Team award. The team of 20 was selected by a panel of judges from almost 1,450 students nominated by community colleges across the United States and Guam. Judges considered grades, leadership, activities and, most importantly, how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.
Place also won the New Century Scholars award for Mississippi, a program that honors the top scorer from each of the 50 states in the Coca-Cola All-State Academic Team program. This award provided a $2000.00 scholarship. Other students from Gulf Coast who have made the All-USA First Team include Madeline Zimmerman, 1998, and Melissa Hanna, 2000, both from the Jackson County Campus, and Tammy Stefanini, 2005, from the Jefferson Davis Campus.
Other 2009 Phi Theta Kappa winners from Gulf Coast:
All-USA Academic Team
Silver Medal
Maya Sokolowski, Perkinston Campus
Bronze Medal
Margaret “LeAnn” Potter, Jackson County Campus
National Finalist
Theresa Bell
All-Mississippi Academic Team
First Team
Eric Place, Jackson County Campus
Second Team
Trenton Webb, Jefferson Davis Campus
Margaret Potter, Jackson County Campus
Theresa Bell, Perkinston Campus
Maya Sokolowski, Perkinston Campus
PTK Officer
Nelson Walker, 2009 regional vice president, Jefferson Davis Campus
Regional Outstanding Member
Stephanie Maxwell, Jackson County Campus
Most Outstanding President Runner-Up -- Regional
Alicia Bowman, Jackson County Campus
Distinguished Chapter Member
Stephanie Maxwell, Jackson County Campus
Distinguished Chapter President
Alicia Bowman, Jackson County Campus
Distinguished Chapter Advisor
MaryAnn Sison, Ph.D., Jackson County Campus
Gayle Greene-Aguirre, Perkinston Campus
Other awards:
All three Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus chapters received the Five-Star Chapter Award at the PTK Regional Conference at Delgado Community College in New Orleans and were recognized at the international PTK convention in Dallas, Texas.
The Omicron Alpha Chapter of MGCCC Jefferson Davis Campus won first place in the scrapbook competition.
The Pi Epsilon Chapter of MGCCC Jackson County Campus won a Scholarship Hallmark Award.
