By Rachel Luchmun
Two students from the college were named to the All-Kansas Academic Team. The team recognizes the academic achievements of 53 scholars from the state of Kansas.
Silvana Palau Valiente and Narinder Singh are the two students who were nominated. They will be honored at a ceremony in Topeka on Feb. 16. Legislators and educators will attend this ceremony.
Pat Decker, Honors director, said the All-Kansas Academic Team recognizes students from Phi Theta Kappa who demonstrate excellence both academically and in the community. Students are nominated by the college.
“It is always a difficult decision [to choose students to nominate],” Decker said. “We have a lot of good students.”
Valiente said she was happy about being chosen.
“I was happy [when I found out I was chosen] but I did not know it was so big,” Palau said. “There will be a big lunch in Topeka with all the other students. I am not nervous right now but that might change.”
In addition to being recognized at the lunch in Topeka, there is also a $500 scholarship if the students decide to transfer to a university within the state of Kansas.
“I am looking at either KU or Rockhurst,” Valiente said. “I would only get the scholarship if I went to KU, though.”
Valiente is the president of Phi Theta Kappa as well as a student ambassador. She is also enrolled in the honors program and was the vice president of the International Club.
Singh said his nomination to the All-Kansas Academic Team was exciting.
“It was exciting to find out I had made it,” he said. “It’s good to know I had actually achieved something beyond just school.”
Singh said the nomination did not bring real, tangible perks.
“It depends on what school you’re going to,” he said. “Some may look at it and be more likely to let me in.”
Singh said he plans to transfer to the University of Kansas after the summer semester, for a degree in Engineering. He is an officer for Phi Theta Kappa and an Academic Excellence Challenge competitor.
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa, go to http://www.jccc.edu/honors/honors-societies.html.
Contact Rachel Luchmun, news editor, at rluchmun@jccc.edu.