BC3 students named to All-PA Academic Team
Two Butler County Community College sophomores will receive full-tuition, two-year scholarships toward completing a bachelor's degree at a state university.
BC3's Rho Phi, chapter of the international academic honor society to which Teresa Kuo and Abbey Walker belong, has also attained Phi Theta Kappa's ultimate five-star status for the fourth time since 1968.
Scholarship winners
Knoch High School graduates Kuo, 19, of Cabot and Walker, 20, of Penn Township can apply the scholarship they will receive as selections to the 2020 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team to their choice of any of the state's 14 public four-year universities.
All-Pennsylvania Academic Team status recognizes Kuo and Walker's excellence in the classroom and dedication to their community college and communities, said Morgan Rizzardi, BC3's primary adviser to Rho Phi and the college's associate director of admissions.
Selections must also have completed at least 36 credits at a Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges institution such as BC3.
Members of Phi Theta Kappa, the society for two-year colleges and academic programs, must also have a minimum grade-point average of 3.5.
Kuo and Walker achieved at least a 3.75 grade-point average in the fall 2018, spring 2019 and fall 2019 semesters.
Kuo has served as a missionary in Cambodia. Walker was a volunteer in the “Echoes of the Past” walk in North Side Cemetery, an event organized by the Butler Historical Society.
Upon graduating from BC3 in May, Kuo, an early childhood education major, will transfer to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Walker, a history major, has selected Slippery Rock University.Kuo has also been selected to receive a $1,250 scholarship as a 2020 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar in a program administered by Phi Theta Kappa and based on her scores in the All-USA Academic Team competition.Rho Phi recognizedPhi Theta Kappa, with 3.2 million members representing 10 countries, has also recently recognized Rho Phi as a five-star chapter for the fourth consecutive year following Rho Phi's first four-star rating in 2015 — and for membership acceptance rates.To reach five-star status, a chapter must, among other requirements, develop an honors in action project that combines academic research, problem-solving and action-oriented services to address real-world challenges in communities.To be honored with a Phi Theta Kappa Reach Reward, chapters must increase membership acceptance rates by at least 15 percent. Rho Phi's rate in 2019 was 30.1, double the international rate of 15 percent.Rho Phi this spring will have 238 members, among them, 153 from Butler County. New members from Butler County are:Abigail Bastaja, Sarver, mathematics; Christian Caldwell, Butler, social work; Francesca Citrone, Evans City, general studies; Sara Davis, Butler, photography; and Patrick Deal, Butler, general studiesOleksii Dukhovenko, Mars, computer science; Chalee Durand, Butler, communications; Kyleigh Fleeger, Chicora, general studies; Jessica Flower, Evans City, early childhood education (Pre K-4); and Nathaniel Friel, Butler, secondary education-social sciences concentrationMara Grossi, Butler, business administration; Zachary Hanek, Cranberry Township, general studies, Adam Hartzell, Butler, business administration; Evah Hershberger, Butler, general studies; Paige Hibbs, Valencia, general studies; and Bethany Jones, Cabot, business managementTaylor Keith, Cabot, registered nursing; Bailey Kondos, Evans City, park and recreation management; Lainey Malak, Sarver, general studies; Abigail Markle, Cabot, business administration; Elianna Marsh, Mars, early childhood education (Pre K-4); and Oliviah Montag, Butler, business administrationKorene Murdie, Saxonburg, human resource management; Alisha Novak, Butler, social work; Erin Pletsch, Butler, business administration; Noah Sespico, Butler, psychology; Cortnie Smith, Butler, accounting; and Jenna Stallsmith, Cabot, registered nursingAbby Tartal, Butler, medical coding and billing specialist; Jay VanCise, Butler, engineering technology with CADD; and Taylor Wingert, Butler, medical assistant.William Foley is the coordinator of news and media content at Butler County Community College.
