March 17, 2016
Angelica Fuentes, a sophomore at Northeast Texas Community College, recently learned that she has received the prestigious 2016 Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholarship. Her†selection was based on the score she earned in the Guistwhite Scholarship Competition, for which over 1,800 applications were received. Fuentes is one of only 15 students selected for this honor internationally.
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As a Guistwhite Scholar, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship to assist with the completion of her bachelor?s degree. She will be presented the award on stage at Phi Theta Kappa?s annual convention in National Harbor, Maryland in early April.†Fuentes, of Mount Pleasant, plans to transfer to Texas A&M University†?†College Station to pursue a degree in†chemistry or biomedical science after graduating from NTCC this May.
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?Angelica is an ambitious, driven student who has made the most of her experience at NTCC. We were exceptionally†pleased to learn that she is one of the few students chosen to receive this elite scholarship,? Dr. Melissa Fulgham,†advisor for NTCC?s Alpha Mu Chi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, said.†?Students in our chapter have set the bar of achievement very high and each year new students, like Angelica, are rising to meet that challenge.?†
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Fuentes is the†fifth†student from NTCC to receive the Guistwhite Scholarship in†the last five†years. Those who†received the award before her included†Kayleah Cumpian, Noah Griffin, Stephen Milburn and Isaac Griffin.†
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"NTCC provides amazing opportunities for its students which pay off in a variety of ways. It is nice to see students like Angelica take advantage of those opportunities and then be rewarded for those efforts,? Fulgham said.†
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Fuentes†is a sophomore Presidential Scholar in Honors Northeast and very active on campus. She serves as Vice-President for the Alpha Mu Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, President of the BioChem Pre-Professional Society, and secretary of the NTCC Honors Council.
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During her time at NTCC, she has received numerous state and national awards, conducted original research, and presented before regional and national meetings. As a freshman, she won†a†Texas STAR†Award†from†Phi Theta Kappa, recognizing her as someone with outstanding academic and leadership potential within the Texas Region of Phi Theta Kappa, where she†has also been inducted into the District III Hall of Honor.†Fuentes participated in an undergraduate research program at Texas A&M University-Commerce last summer,†where she†studied the†?Synthesis of Ammonium Ionic Liquid Support Ligands and their Application in Michael Reaction.?†She shared†research on "Constructing the Selena Legend" in a very well-received and spirited presentation at the Great Plain Honors Council, and, later, by invitation, to the East Texas Historical Association. She has also presented work at the National Collegiate Honors Council.
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?I feel very blessed and honored for receiving this scholarship. I have many years ahead of me as a med school or grad student, and I will certainly make the most out of this award. I am beyond grateful for being part of an organization that helps students like myself turn a passion into a career. It is wonderful to know that all my hard work is paying off. Thank you to Phi Theta Kappa for placing their trust and support in my future,? Fuentes said
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The Guistwhite Scholar Program is named in honor of the late Dr. Jack Guistwhite and his widow, Margaret Guistwhite. Dr. Guistwhite established the first designated transfer scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa members at Florida Atlantic University in 1975. The Guistwhite Scholarships were established by Phi Theta Kappa in 1992.
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1,285 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, Peru, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. Nearly 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 131,000 students inducted annually.
NTCC?s Alpha Mu Chi chapter was originally chartered the year after the college opened.† It achieved five-star status for the first time†five years ago and has maintained it ever since.† It is currently recognized as†a Top Chapter within Texas and a†Top 100†Chapter Internationally.† Membership, which is by invitation only, is extended to the top 10% of the students enrolled at the college.
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