Palomar College Students Juan Flores and Forrest Ponsot Receive National and State Phi Theta Kappa All-Academic Team Awards

Mar 17, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN MARCOS (March 17, 2017) – Two Palomar College students and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) members, Juan Flores and Forrest Ponsot have been selected to receive prestigious awards as part of The All-USA Community College Academic Team competition. Each student, chosen out of 1,800 applicants across the nation, will be honored in a separate ceremony in April. In  addition, they will both be honored in Sacramento this month as members of the All-California Community College Academic Team, Team One.

Flores is one of 20 students named as a 2017 All-USA Community College Academic Team member. He will receive a $5,000 scholarship at Phi Theta Kappa’s Presidents Breakfast held during the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Convention scheduled for Monday, April 24 in New Orleans, LA.  The All-USA Community College Academic Team is sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group with additional support provided by the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa.

Ponsot has been selected as a 2017 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar. He will receive a $1,500 scholarship at PTK Catalyst, Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention to be held April 6-8 in Nashville, TN. This program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by Phi Theta Kappa.

Ponsot is the current President, and Flores the Vice President of Palomar College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa. Dana O’Callaghan, one of Palomar’s PTK advisors and Counselor, will accompany them to the 2017 Phi Theta Kappa Academic Team Awards Luncheon where they will be honored on March 23.

Katy Farrell, Associate Professor of Reading Services and co-advisor of PTK at Palomar said, “I am amazed at what Forrest and Juan have accomplished as college students and community leaders. Along with other chapter members, they are aggressively working towards providing food security to Palomar students and supporting human trafficking victims in North County.  They have a strong desire for social justice and are not lacking in work ethic. That’s for certain.”

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CONTACTS:
Melinda Finn, Public Affairs Office, 760-744-1150, ext. 2365, mfinn@palomar.edu
Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs Office, 760_744-1150, ext. 2152, lgropen@palomar.edu
Katy Farrell, Reading Services, 760_744-1150, ext. 3640, kfarrell@palomar.edu
Dana O’Callaghan, 760_744-1150, ext. 2654, docallaghan@palomar.edu