BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Five students from Northampton Community College have been chosen for the 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.
The honor, which goes to 64 students from 14 community colleges across the state, recognizes those with a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 who also demonstrate leadership and service that extends beyond the classroom.
“These students work very hard to reach their goals, both at the college and in their personal lives. Making this team speaks highly to all they’ve achieved at NCC and the positive contributions they’ve made to the community. I look forward to seeing what other amazing things they do,”Northampton Community College President David A. Ruth
“These students work very hard to reach their goals, both at the college and in their personal lives,” NCC President David A. Ruth said.
Students are selected for the All-PA Academic Team based on a thorough nomination and application process. to apply for the honor, they also must be members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.
“Making this team speaks highly to all they’ve achieved at NCC and the positive contributions they’ve made to the community. I look forward to seeing what other amazing things they do,” said Ruth in a news release last week.
How students are recognized
Recognition levels are organized into tiers. Three of the students met the Transfer Pathway Scholar requirements of having completed at least 36 community college credits, a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and plan to transfer to a four-year college after graduation.
“When these students start the process, a lot are unsure about how to fill out the application. Some wonder, do they have enough to say about themselves? I find that they end up learning a lot about themselves than they initially thought they knew, all that they have accomplished so far, and it’s really neat to see.”Doug Smith, Northampton Community College's director of student life and leadership development
They are Morotiola Babajide and Zuzanna Solarz of NCC’s Bethlehem campus, and Jenny Ro from its Monroe campus.
State community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to provide transfer students tuition waivers at any PASSHE school.
Babajide and Ro were also chosen Coca-Cola Bronze Scholars and each will get a $1,000 scholarship.
Morgan Bizousky and Ruturajsinh Chudasama became Workforce Pathway honorees, who qualified after completing a community college certificate or associate degree and achieving a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
Bizousky attended classes through the virtual NCC campus; Chudasama is from the Bethlehem campus. Both will enter employment in the medical field.
Doug Smith is NCC’s director of student life and leadership development. His role is to guide applicants through the All-PA Team required paperwork.
“When these students start the process, a lot are unsure about how to fill out the application. Some wonder, do they have enough to say about themselves?” Smith said Thursday.
“I find that they end up learning a lot about themselves than they initially thought they knew, all that they have accomplished so far, and it’s really neat to see.”
