Whitley Selected for All-USA Academic Team
Thomas Nelson's Anastasia Whitley is among 20 college students named to the prestigious All-USA Academic Team and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. More than 2,200 students were nominated for the award.
The team members will be recognized during the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) convention in May. In addition to the scholarship funds, recipients will be presented with commemorative medallions, and their college presidents will receive commemorative obelisks.
Students were named to the All-USA Academic Team for their outstanding intellectual achievement, leadership, community, and campus engagement. The team is sponsored by Cengage, with additional support provided by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and AACC.
Whitley, who is slated to graduate in May with an Associate of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts, serves as secretary for the College's PTK chapter and participates in TRiO as well as other campus organizations.
A Portsmouth resident, Whitley attributes her successful student experience at the College to TRiO, a federal program that serves students, who are first-generation college students, have documented disabilities, or who are from a lower economic background. The program enabled the mother of three to navigate the rigors of full-time classes as she balanced working full-time.
"TRiO helped me emerge from my shell. With TRiO I toured colleges, learned scholarly tips (and) scholarship advice, attended fun activities and outings, and was introduced to Phi Theta Kappa. Unlike my brief attempt at college in 2013, I felt like more than just a number and like I was not on this journey alone," wrote Whitley in a scholarship essay.
"The program helped me accomplish what initially seemed out of reach. I graduate this May with accolades and confidence … I will transfer to a four-year institution, and my daughters will benefit from my experience when they pursue college," added Whitley.
The All-USA program is recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students attending associate degree-granting institutions. Each college may nominate two students for showing intellectual rigor and demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, and civic growth. The program also recognizes students who extend their community college education to better themselves, their schools, and their surrounding communities.
Learn more about the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship Program.
About Phi Theta Kappa: Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation's colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
About Cengage: Cengage, the U.S. Higher Education business of global education technology company Cengage Group, serves millions of instructors, learners, and institutions. Cengage's industry-leading subscription for textbooks and materials, Cengage Unlimited, has helped community college students save more than $130 million on course materials since August 2018. Cengage delivers affordable, high-quality digital products and personalized support to power learning individually and at scale. Its customer-centered approach enables innovation, including Cengage Unlimited, the first and only all-access digital subscription for textbooks and course materials. Cengage's textbooks, homework tools, and flagship online learning platforms, MindTap and WebAssign, help educators and students achieve their goals. Visit Cengage at www.cengage.com/institutions or on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.