NJ Council of County Colleges Honors
the State's Top Community College Scholars

TRENTON, N.J.— The New Jersey Council of County Colleges honored New Jersey's 33 best and brightest community college students and their families at its 14th annual Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Day celebration on Thursday, May 1, at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Hotel.

"Each year, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges hosts this luncheon program to recognize the members of the New Jersey All-State Academic Team, sponsored by PTK, the international honor society for community colleges," said NJCCC President Dr. Lawrence Nespoli. "These students are recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and exceptional service to their communities as members of PTK at their local community colleges."

As part of the celebration, the All-State Academic Team members visited the Statehouse to meet Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and representatives from the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education.

In addition to statewide recognition, this year PTK International named Essex County College student David Kariuki of Jersey City to its 20-member All-USA Community College Academic First Team. Kariuki received a $2,500 stipend at the PTK International Convention held in Philadelphia from April 3 to 5.

Kariuki also received a $2,000 New Century Scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation for being New Jersey's top community college student, awarded during the American Association of Community Colleges National Convention, also held in Philadelphia, from April 5 to 8. The Coca-Cola Foundation established the New Century Scholars Program in 2001 to provide additional scholarship and national recognition to the number one PTK student from each state.

To view a PDF of each student's accomplishments, please click the student's name in the list below.

The 2008 All-New Jersey Academic Team members are:

The New Jersey Phi Theta Kappa Day Celebration was sponsored by PSE&G. Also, 20 of New Jersey's four-year colleges and universities offered over $1 million in scholarships to Phi Theta Kappa students transferring to their institutions.

Phi Theta Kappa has recognized and encouraged scholarship among community college students for 90 years while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. Students with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa.

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges is the state association representing New Jersey's 19 community colleges. As an independent, trustee-headed organization that joins the leadership of trustees and presidents, the Council is the voice of the community college sector before the state legislature and other branches of government. The Council is also the state coordinating organization for all community colleges in New Jersey.

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2008 All-NJ Academic Team

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