All-USA Community College Academic Team
The All-USA Academic Team program annually recognizes 60 outstanding two-year college students. First, Second, and Third Teams, each consisting of 20 members, are selected. The 20 First Team members receive stipends of $2,500 each. All 60 members of the All- USA Academic Team and their colleges receive extensive national recognition through coverage in USA TODAY. Selection is based on nominations submitted by community college presidents or CEOs, who receive nomination materials in the fall. Phi Theta Kappa, USA TODAY, and the American Association of Community Colleges sponsor the All-USA Academic Team program annually. To be eligible, a student must post a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and be eligible to graduate with an associate degree. Details are below.
NOTE: Nominated students who are also Phi Theta Kappa members can qualify for the Guistwhite Scholarship by completing a one-page Guistwhite supplement application. Nominators, see the application page for more information.
Meet the 2008 All-USA Academic Team Members and the Community Colleges they represent!
Click here to download the 2008 New Century Scholars Reception which took place at the American Association of Community Colleges Convention on April 6, 2008, at the Loew's Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Click here to download the 2008 50th Annual Presidents Breakfast which took place at the American Association of Community Colleges Convention on April 7, 2008, in the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| How to Nominate Students for the Team |
| How to Change the Nominator at your School |
| How to Find the Nominator at your School |
| Hints for Selecting Nominees |
Eligibility Criteria |
| Judging and Awards |
Deadline
| Contact Information |
| New Century Scholars | Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation |
How to Nominate Students for the Team
Find out if your nominee is eligible.
Presidents or designated nominators are invited to submit as many as two nominations from each campus of their institution. Applications can be downloaded at the top of this page. To access the applications, please refer to the password included in the letter found in the nomination packet mailed to the college president.
Applications are mailed to college presidents or their designated contacts the last week of September.
Applications will not be mailed to students. Students interested in being nominated will need to contact the designated nominator at his or her school.
How to Change the Nominator at your School
Every year, presidents are automatically designated as the All-USA Nominator. In August, a letter and "Change of Nominator" form are mailed to the president's office. If the president would like to change the nominator, this form with the name and contact information of the new designee can be returned to Phi Theta Kappa at 601.984.3546. If this form is unavailable, the president can call 601.984.3539 to request a new form. If the form is not returned to change the designee, all application materials will be mailed to the president.
How to Find the Nominator at your School
Visit the directory of Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Team Contacts to see the designated contact for the All-USA Academic Team.
Hints for Selecting Nominees
In selecting nominees to represent your institution, presidents are asked to consider outstanding academic rigor and grade point averages; participation in honors programs; awards, honors, and recognition for academic achievement, and service to the college and community.
In addition, the focal point of the All-USA Academic Team Application is the essay. This should center around one endeavor undertaken by the student that utilized his or her community college education to improve his or her community or school. Judges look for innovative, creative, original and lasting achievements or undertakings.
For in-depth advice, nominators are encouraged to read the Advice to All-USA Team Nominators.
Eligibility Criteria
Please review the eligibility criteria carefully as there have been slight changes this year. Even if you have nominated in the past, please take a moment to review the new eligibility criteria. Also, take the eligibility survey to see if your nominee is eligible.
Significant changes are being made to the All-USA Academic Team over the next few years. Extensive research led to the discovery that certain credit guidelines are indicative of successful students. In addition, research indicated that many academically rigorous students do not complete Associate degrees, even though they may continue on and successfully achieve Bachelor degrees. As a result, we made students pursuing Bachelor degrees as well as Associate degrees eligible for this recognition. The prestige of being named to the First, Second or Third Teams of the All-USA Academic Program will be strengthened by increasing the diversity of eligible applicants and by raising the academic rigor of the program.
Specific eligibility requirements of note:- Must be enrolled at a community college through December 2007.
- Must have a cumulative college-level GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale for all coursework completed in the last five years, regardless of institution attended. If the student has attended more than one school, all transcripts will be recalculated to determine the cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework taken.
- Students must be on track to earn an Associate or a Bachelor degree. Students need to have a minimum of 45 semester (or 60 quarter) college-level credits completed at or transferred to a community college by December 31, 2007 and 53 semester (or 79.5 quarter), college-level credits by August 31, 2008. Students must have a minimum of 30 semester (or 45 quarter), college-level credit hours completed at a community college in the past five years.
- Must not have been nominated previously for the All-USA Community College Academic Team.
- Must have a community college record free of suspension, probation, and serious disciplinary action, and must not have rights of citizenship abridged due to criminal conduct (U.S. citizenship is not required).
Judging and Awards
Independent judges review the applications and select twenty-member First, Second, and Third Teams. First Team members each receive a $2,500 cash stipend. The 2008 First, Second and Third Team members will be featured in USA TODAY on April 7, 2008.
Deadline
All applications must be received (not postmarked) at Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters by November 30, 2007 5:00pm CST. Late applications will be deemed ineligible.
When mailing your application, it is recommended you use a service that gives you the ability to "track" your package to ensure that it has been delivered to Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters. Due to the high volume of applications received, Phi Theta Kappa staff will not be able to confirm receipt of your application.
Contact Information
For more information about the All-USA Academic Teams, contact scholarship.programs@ptk.org, 601.984.3539.
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