PJC students on 2015 PTK All-Texas Academic Team
Published or Revised April 13, 2015
Receiving Phi Theta Kappa’s All-Texas Academic Team honors were PJC students Nathan Slinkard (left) and Jeramy Howell (right). The two-year college honor society held the recognition ceremony recently in the LBJ Library at the University of Texas in Austin.
Paris Junior College students Jeramy Howell and Nathan Slinkard have been named to the 2015 All-Texas Academic Team of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society.
They were recognized as outstanding two-year college students based on nominations from faculty and for their outstanding academic achievement, community service, leadership, and expression. The ceremony was held recently in the LBJ Library at the University of Texas in Austin and hosted by PTK, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Texas Community College Teacher’s Association, American Association of Community Colleges, and several other Texas universities.
Students were called up individually to receive their commemorative medallions and certificates. THECB Deputy Commissioner David Gardner, Ph.D., addressed the students and praised them on their hard work and dedication to scholarship. “You are the best of the best,” he said.
“The auditorium was filled with family, friends, and college faculty and administrators glowing with pride at every name called, for it seemed every student was our student,” said PTK advisor Diann Mason. “It was an amazing afternoon. Sometimes we get caught up in our own classrooms and our own students and we forget that the same sorts of scenarios are being played out in community college classrooms and hallways all across the State. What an amazing invention this community college system is! That afternoon reminds me why I am a part of it.”
“I am very honored to be selected for this distinguished award and it was a well-done ceremony,” said Howell. “I owe a lot of gratitude to Dr. Anglin for nominating me and to faculty like Mrs. Mason for her constant encouragement along the way. These kinds of things instill confidence in me to complete my goal of finishing up my degrees and obtaining my dreams. It also goes to show that PJC can help you achieve that.”
“I had a great time at the All-Texas Academic Team ceremony,” said Slinkard. “It was a great honor to be recognized as one of the top community college students in the state. I had a wonderful experience meeting different students, some from places like Senegal, Vietnam, and Albania! I even met some that were majoring in dietetics like I am. The trip was a reminder to me that hard works pays off, and how blessed I am to be a PJC dragon and a member of Phi Theta Kappa.”
