Northeast Texas Community College students Brenda Godoy and Rachel Jordan received recognition as Texas STAR Scholars at the Phi Theta Kappa Texas Regional Honors Institute held at Schreiner?s University July 21-23. They were two of eleven recipients from throughout the state of Texas.† Both serve as Vice-Presidents of Alpha Mu Chi, NTCC?s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Both are Presidential Scholars in Honors Northeast.
?Brenda and Rachel are very deserving of this recognition! These remarkable young ladies? journeys are only beginning and I?m excited to see what they will accomplish in this coming year,? said Dr. Melissa Fulgham, advisor for the Alpha Mu Chi chapter.
The scholarship recognizes students with outstanding academic ability, demonstrated leadership, and involvement within the community. Recipients must be returning to a community college. Jordan is a Psychology major who volunteers at the Martin House Child Advocacy Center. Last March in Houston, she received a fourth-place Caldwell Award from the Texas State Historical Association for her essay entitled ?Up Against the Grain: Texas Regionalist and Modernist Art.? Now in July, Jordan has received a Texas STAR Scholarship valued at $500.
?It was a true honor to be awarded a Texas STAR Scholarship. I feel blessed to be given this opportunity to help further my education,? Jordan said.
Godoy is a Bio-Chem major who volunteers at Titus County Cares and is very active in her church.† As a Presidential Scholar, she received the Eckman Award for Excellence in the Honors Seminars. The NTCC Honors Committee ranked her essay on hierarchies in the Texas revolution first among freshmen at NTCC.† Phi Theta Kappa judges ranked Godoy?s application as the strongest among all those received in the entire state, and awarded her the top prize, the Dr. Mary Hood Scholarship, valued at $1,000.
?I?m very grateful to have received the Dr. Mary Hood Scholarship. It was the last scholarship they announced and I was very overwhelmed once they called my name. I would like to give a great ?thank you? to those who provide scholarships for students like me to continue their education,? Godoy said.
?We at NTCC are indebted to Dr. Fulgham, and the Alpha Mu Chi chapter for the remarkable ways they have initiated and extended honorary momentum for our students. I am also very pleased to note that Brenda?s and Rachel?s written work is continuing to win notice, and I believe we will be hearing more about their scholarship in the coming year,? Dr. Andrew Yox, NTCC Honors Director, said.
Godoy and Jordan are the sixth and seventh NTCC recipients of the Texas Star Scholarship.† Emma Shaw received the award in 2016, Angelica Fuentes in 2015, Kayleah Cumpian and Tyler Reynolds in 2014, and Stephen Milburn in 2013.
