
This ceremony honors the top high-performing community service oriented students from 14 Colorado community colleges. These students belong to their college鈥檚 chapter(s) of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society and have been selected as being the 鈥渂est of the best鈥 from their respective institutions. Recognizing the academic achievement of two-year college students, PTK is the largest honor society in American higher education.
Twenty-seven outstanding community college students will be recognized and the highest rated of those will be presented as Colorado鈥檚 鈥淣ew Century Scholar鈥 award honoree and given a $2,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the Coca-Cola Foundation. The New Century Scholar will be invited to represent Colorado at the annual American Association of 麻豆社s national convention.
Additionally, all 27 students will receive scholarships from Johnson & Wales University and Regis University.
Invitees include all members of the Colorado General Assembly, the State Board for 麻豆社s and Occupational Education, senior staff of the Colorado 麻豆社 System, community college presidents, community college PTK advisors, and student guests.
Stacie Amaya will be graduating in the spring of 2015 from the paralegal program with an Associate of Applied Science degree. Stacie feels that being invited to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Mu Mu chapter in the fall of 2013 was the first step toward really becoming involved on campus, as well as in the community surrounding the College. She was able to connect with volunteering opportunities on campus that enabled her to find her place, and feel a sense of belonging and connectedness with the community. She not only serves CCD through her Student Government Association position, but also serves the entire campus through her role as a member on the Auraria Board of Directors, and the broader community through her Student Advisor position with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Stacie feels honored to be given this opportunity to represent CCD.
Laura Thomas worked as a freelance writer and author before her passion for science motivated her to attend CCD and earn an Associate of Science degree, which she will complete this summer. Next she鈥檒l pursue a biochemistry degree with her ultimate goal of getting into virology. Laura has been a member of PTK for two years and was privileged to participate in several events, particularly building homes for Habitat for Humanity. She is an education advocate, an officer in CCD鈥檚 STEM Club, and volunteers regularly. She鈥檚 thrilled to be a part of PTK鈥檚 Academic Team!
To be eligible to belong to the PTK honor society, students must complete at least 12 hours of associate degree coursework and earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average. Colorado鈥檚 first PTK chapter was chartered in 1932 and today there are nearly two dozen active chapters in the state. More than 51,000 Colorado 麻豆社 students have been inducted over the last 83 years.