Jefferson State student Erin Georgia has been named one of the top 20 community college students in the nation as a member of the 2016 All-USA Community College Academic Team.
The annual honor recognizes students who display an outstanding combination of academic achievement and community service. Georgia, of Trussville, will receive a $5,000 scholarship and was recognized with her fellow team members during the American Association of Community Colleges national convention in Chicago, IL on April 12.
“I would not have received this honor without Jefferson State,” said Georgia. “I served in the Marines and was out of school for 15 years. I needed to take developmental math and I needed the personal support that Jefferson State provides. My instructors cared about me and they encouraged me to reach my goals.”
Georgia, who maintains a 4.0 GPA while married with three children, plans to transfer to Samford University in the fall. She plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, and then earn a master’s of divinity degree.
Erin Georgia (left) is recognized as one of the top achieving community college students in the nation during the AACC national conference in Chicago on April 12.
The competition, which included more than 1,900 nominees from more than 1,000 community colleges across the U.S., evaluated students on grades, leadership, activities and their contributions outside of the classroom.
“Leadership comes natural to Erin,” said Jefferson State Instructor and Phi Theta Kappa advisor Matt Boehm. “As an advisor, it is rare to encounter a student who is so comfortable in counseling others. Erin is a special student that has a gift for providing exactly the help needed in each and every situation.”
In addition to the All-USA Team, Georgia was recently named Alabama’s Coca-Cola New Century Scholar. This program awards a $2000 scholarship to one student from each state with the highest All-USA Community College Academic Team application score.
The last USA Today All-Academic Team member from Jefferson State was Keith Brown, who now serves as Interim President of Jefferson State.
The All-USA program is sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group and presented by USA TODAY with additional support provided by the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa.
