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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Local Chipola Students, Alicia Hatcher and Glen Thompson, Win State and National Awards

Presentations Made In Philadelphia To Local Scholars, Chipola to Make Special Presentation On Thursday

Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship are the four hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society of the two year College. And for Chipola students Alicia Hatcher and Glen Thompson, they are a way of life.

Alicia first began her involvement in Phi Theta Kappa as an early admissions senior in 2006 with the encouragement of Phi Theta Kappa advisor Pam Rentz. Since then, she has participated in service projects such as Project Prom, a project to provide Katrina ravaged Bay St. Louis, MS students with their dream prom and Campaign for Literacy, a project targeting students from kindergarten to college.
In February Alicia received notification that she had been chosen as one of thirty Phi Theta Kappa members to be named to the 2008 All-Florida Academic Team First Team. Sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society-Florida Region, the Florida Association of Community Colleges and the Foundation for Florida’s Community Colleges, this was the thirteenth year an All-Florida Academic Team was named as a means of recognizing Florida’s outstanding students. Nomination by their college for the USA Today/Phi Theta Kappa sponsored All-USA Academic Team and their standing in this national competition determines student selection for the All-Florida Academic Team.

On April 15, 2008 Alicia, along with fellow Chipola sophomore Glenn Thompson was honored in Tallahassee at the 2008 All-Florida Academic Team Awards Ceremony. Based on participation in honors organizations, awards and honors for academic and technical accomplishments, academic enrichment through study and internships, sharing academic attainment, knowledge, skills and cultural enrichment, both students as All-Florida Academic Team members received Phi Theta Kappa medallions in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments.

At the same time that Alicia and Glen were notified of their selection to the All-Florida Academic Team, they also found they had been chosen as one of 60 outstanding two-year college students to be named to the All-USA Academic Team, chosen from a selection of 1600 outstanding student nominees. As a member of the All-USA Academic Team Third Team, Alicia received national recognition in the April 7, 2008 USA Today newspaper. Glen Thompson who won second team awards was also nationally recognized in USA Today.

In March Alicia found that she had been named one of twenty Guistwhite Scholars internationally. The Guistwhite Scholar Program is named in honor of Dr. Jack Guistwhite and his wife, Margaret who established the first designated transfer scholarships for Phi Theta Kappa members. Guistwhite Scholarships are based on academic achievement, participation in Phi Theta Kappa programs and service to their colleges and communities. Chosen by a panel of independent judges, Guistwhite Scholars are awarded a $5,000 scholarship to be used during their junior and senior years of college. This award was presented at the 90th International Convention held in Philadelphia, PA April 3-5, 2008.

While in Philadelphia Alicia was awarded one of thirty Distinguished Chapter Officer Hallmark Awards, given internationally. The Hallmark Award Program is a competitive awards program which in this case recognizes individuals for excellence in the Society’s Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship.

Along with Phi Theta Kappa, Alicia is an active member of the Student Government Association where she served as Freshman Class President, Student Ambassadors, Mu Alpha Theta where she served as President, Pre-Med Society, Honors Club where she serves as vice-president, and Governance Council. She is currently Scholarship Officer for Phi Theta Kappa.

A special ceremony was held on Thursday, April 17 in the atrium of the Literature/Language Building honoring these two outstanding students. A portrait of each student will be hung on the Chipola Academic Wall of Honor at this time.

Glen Thompson, a Malone High Graduate is the son of Tommy and Marcia Thompson of Malone. He is active in many school organizations, including being a Service Officer with Phi Theta Kappa, Senator in Student Government, Student Leader in Chipola Honors Group, is a volunteer coach and referee for youth sports, is a volunteer for JCARC, is a volunteer worker for Partners for Pets, worked in Katrina clean-up as volunteer, and assisted in campus breast cancer awareness seminar.

Alicia is the daughter of Chuck and Patte Hatcher of Dellwood and is a graduate of Graceville High School. She has one sister, India who also attends Chipola College. She is the granddaughter of Jerre and Christine Nettles of Marianna and the late Peggy B. Nettles, Woodrow and Linda Hatcher of Marianna, Pat Odom and the late Jim Odom of Dellwood, and Chuck and Eileen Brown of New Haven, CT.

The Jackson County Times offers congratulations to these two outstanding local stuents.

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