Calhoun’s Top Eleven Students among Those to be honored during College’s 47th Annual Honors Day this Week

Calhoun Community College will recognize and honor its top students for the 2015-16 academic year during the college’s 47th Annual Honors Day program, this Friday, April 29, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Kelley Gymnasium on the Decatur campus. Students will be presented with local, state and national honors and scholarships during Friday’s program.
Among the honors to be awarded will be presentation of the Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholarship to Kaeshier J. Fernandez. Fernandez is one of only 15 recipients nationwide and the only student from Alabama to be awarded the scholarship this year. Guistwhite Scholars are chosen based on academic achievement, leadership accomplishments and engagement in Phi Theta Kappa programs and were selected by a panel of independent judges from more than 1,800 applicants.

Additionally, Fernandez and Calhoun student Maegan Edwards will be recognized as PTK Coca-Cola Gold Scholars, and Marnie Tabor will be honored as a PTK Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar. Selection as a Coca-Cola Scholar is based on scores students earn in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition, for which more than 1,900 applications were received this year. This program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Among other students to be honored by Calhoun on Friday are the college’s “Top Eleven Most Outstanding Students”. The following students are from Madison:
Kaeshier J. Fernandez is a Psychology major from Madison, Alabama. He is one of four students nominated to the All USA Academic Team this year, serves as Vice President of Leadership for Phi Theta Kappa Honor, and is a member of the LGBTQ Coalition. Kaeshier serves his community through volunteering as a youth coach for soccer and baseball. His GPA is 3.9.
Marissa Alana Lucento is a Chemistry major from Madison, Alabama. She served as a Calhoun Warhawk student ambassador and is a member of both the Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Societies. She is also a Senator for Calhoun’s Student Government Association. Her goal is to obtain her degree in chemistry and do research in the field. She would ultimately like to help others by becoming a Pharmacist. Her GPA is 3.8.
In addition to the college’s “Top Eleven”, the most outstanding student from each of Calhoun’s divisions and departments and students named to Who’s Who among Students in American Junior Colleges will be recognized. Other awards to be presented during the ceremony include the Athlete of the Year and recognition of Mr. and Miss Calhoun for 2016.
Academic awards will be given to those students receiving Calhoun scholarships, and scholarships from four-year colleges and universities also will be awarded by representatives from those institutions.
A picnic for students and their families will be held immediately following the program.