Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Community College Association will honor two LBCC honor roll students at the Capitol on April 30.
The OCCA, in partnership with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, selects outstanding students from the 17 Oregon community colleges each year for the All-Oregon Academic Team. Those selected receive a $1,000 scholarship and are invited to a luncheon with the governor.
This year two LBCC students, Ilex Karstens and Rebekah Pennington, received the honor.
Karstens is a dental hygiene student with a 4.0 GPA. She attends LBCC as part of the fifth year high school program through Lebanon High and is the executive assistant for the Student Leadership Council. She plans on completing her AAOT, and although she has not yet chosen where to complete her bachelor's, she hopes to do mission work for her church after school.
"I like the idea of going overseas and doing dental work for people in third world countries," said Karstens.
Pennington is a nursing student with a 4.0 GPA in her pre-reqs. She serves as the chapter president for PTK and is on the judiciary board for SLC. After graduation this fall, Pennington plans to use her scholarship to transfer to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
"Ultimately I want to continue through to a master's level to be a practitioner," said Pennington.
Selection for the All-Oregon Academic Team considers applicants based on their community and school involvement first, and their academics second. Former PTK advisor Chris Riseley was responsible for choosing nominees this year. Each community college was allowed to nominate two students.
"Their applications were the most dynamic, professional, and enthusiastic of all the applications submitted. They are great students with amazing potential," said Riseley.
Although no school's nominees are guaranteed to win, LBCC proudly had both of theirs selected.
"We've had at least one selected every year for the last five or six years," said Ginger Petersen, current PTK advisor.
On April 30, formal recognition of their accomplishment will take place at the Salem Conference Center. Both will be invited along with a guest and will meet the other 32 recipients awarded in the state. Each recipient will receive a medal from the State of Oregon and a photo with the governor.
"The governor meets them and they're introduced to the Legislator and taken onto the floor," said Dave Becker, PTK co-advisor.
This term, the application process is open again. If awarded next fall, students will receive a scholarship to be used for continued attendance to a community college. For more information contact Ginger Petersen at petersg@linnbenton.edu.
No comments:
Post a Comment