Two NTCC students receive national scholarship honors

Pictured (from left) is: Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner, Isaac Griffin, Jessica Rogers and Dr. Andrew Yox.

Two Northeast Texas Community College Presidential Scholars were recently awarded national scholarships through the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Jessica Rogers and Isaac Griffin were named 2012 Coca-Cola Gold Scholars and will each receive a $1,500 scholarship. In addition, Griffin was also named a Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholar and will receive another $5,000 scholarship to go towards his bachelor's degree.

"These honors are reserved for the top community college students in the country. We are so proud of Isaac and Jessica for their accomplishments," Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner, NTCC Associate Professor of History and Phi Theta Kappa Advisor, said.

Rogers (of Ore City) and Griffin (of Pittsburg) were chosen for the Coca-Cola Gold Scholar program out of more than 1,700 applications from around the U.S. They will be included in the April 23 issue of USA Today in recognition for this award. This is the first year that NTCC has had two Coca-Cola Scholars. Last year, Cody Russell received the award.

"Both Jessica and Isaac are ambitious scholars who really bring a dimension of excellence to NTCC. It is rewarding to see them acknowledged at the national level for their hard work," Dr. Andrew Yox, NTCC Honors Director, said.

The Guistwhite Scholar award is a prestigious honor that is only given to 20 students each year. Griffin was chosen for this out of more 2,200 applications. He will be honored with the other Guistwhite winners at the 2012 National†Phi Theta Kappa Convention in April.

Rogers was Salutatorian of Ore City High School in 2010 . She has placed in the Northeast Texas Poetry contest two years in a row and presented original research at the Great Plains Honor Council meeting and the National Collegiate Honors Council meeting.

Griffin was homeschooled in Pittsburg and has been very active since becoming an NTCC student. He currently serves as Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa's Texas Region District III. He has helped organize and lead conventions at the district†and state†level. He recently won the Boe Award and will be presenting at the Great Plains Honors Council. Griffin won the Communication Award for his outstanding district newsletter as Regional Phi Theta Kappa Vice President and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa District III Hall of Honor.

Phi Theta Kappa is a national honors society for two-year college students who excel academically. The NTCC Alpha Mu Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa is very active and participates at both the regional and national levels.