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Volume 41, Issue 11
March 9, 2004
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March
9,
2004
4 from MCC honored for
scholarship
Delynn Bodine
Mesa Legend
Four MCC students have been recognized for their academic achievement,
leadership and community service at the All-Arizona Academic Team luncheon
hosted at MCC Feb. 12. Sixty-five students from junior, technical and
community colleges all over Arizona were named to the three All-Arizona
Academic Teams.
Joseph Luchenta, Christian Turner and Kelley Stewart represent MCC on
the All-Arizona Academic first team of 21 students. Margie Phillips
represents MCC on the second team. All four honorees are returning
students, have served as officers in Phi Theta Kappa and have logged
over 2,200 hours of combined community service. These students
will receive an Arizona Board of Regents tuition waiver for any Arizona
public university, a medallion and a scholarship check from MCC.
Luchenta ranked first on the All-Arizona Academic team and was named
a New
Century Scholar. Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society
for two-year colleges; USA Today; and the American Association of Community
Colleges sponsor this statewide competition.
An economics major with a 4.0 GPA, Joseph Luchenta is a former gang member
who left high school as a sophomore and returned at the age of 19. After
completing high school, he entered college and got involved in the honors
program and in community service. This involvement and experience
gave him the motivation and courage to become a positive influence in
the community. He said as a mentor for the Phoenix Youth at Risk
program he has been able to make a difference by sharing his experiences
with others. Luchenta credits faculty and staff at MCC for giving him
the opportunity to succeed.
Christian Turner maintains a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in political
science. Turner gained voter apathy awareness while working as an intern
at the Maricopa County Elections department. He said this award
will enable him to continue his education, give back to the community,
and help others see the need for civic participation. Turner also
feels that through the encouragement of faculty he learned that he could
gain his education with excellence.
Kelley Stewart maintains a 3.8 GPA while pursuing studies in applied
psychology and life science. Stewart volunteers for the Mesa Fire
Department by certifying people in CPR. Stewart has also been named
a Guistwhite Scholar and will receive an additional $5,000. She
is among 14 others who were selected nationwide from nearly 700 applicants.
“
Three years ago I would not have believed that I could obtain a Doctorate. Now
it is within my reach, with my path laid out at ASU East,” Stewart
said.
Social Work major Margie Phillips returned to college 13 years ago and
maintains a 3.7 GPA. She has given hundreds of hours in service
to the Jewish Family and Child Service agency. When asked about
the financial award she said, “This brings tears to my eyes, gives
me chills and is hard to describe. This means I’ll be able
to go on and help other people I wouldn’t otherwise have been able
to.”
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