45 students named to AOAT including students from BMCC and TVCC
By Paul Hall on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
ONTARIO – (Release from Oregon Community College Association) Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) is excited to announce the selection of 45 community college students from around the state to the 2020-2021 All-Oregon Academic Team (AOAT). These outstanding student scholars are selected for their academic excellence, leadership and community service, and are all members of Phi Theta Kappa, the nation’s community college honor society.
“I’d like to congratulate these outstanding student scholars for their achievements and the completion of their community college degrees,” said OCCA Executive Director Cam Preus. “As some of our very best and brightest, these students represent hope for a strong future in Oregon.”
Each year, Phi Theta Kappa, community college presidents, and community college state associations like OCCA sponsor All-State Community College Academic Team ceremonies in 37 participating states. Traditionally, OCCA hosts the All-Oregon Academic Team Luncheon in Salem each April to honor AOAT students with their families, and a special appearance by Gov. Kate Brown. However, due to COVID-19, the 2020 and 2021 luncheons were cancelled. Instead, OCCA honors these students through a special recognition program on its website, www.occa17.com.
In addition, the OCCA Board each year selects four students from the 45 outstanding scholars to serve as speakers at the recognition luncheon. With the cancellation of the 2021 luncheon, these four students instead have created short videos to introduce themselves and their inspiring stories for OCCA’s website. This year’s featured student scholars include Natasha Robinson and Dava Nimmo from Rogue Community College, Casey Dudek from Portland Community College, and Nora Jackson from Lane Community College.
In addition, two AOAT students were designated as New Century Scholars for earning the highest All-USA Academic Team application score for Oregon: Tom Farrenkopf from Portland Community College was named a New Century Transfer Scholar, and Hannah Berger from Treasure Valley Community College was named a New Century Workforce Scholar.
Additionally, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team each year, which recognizes high-achieving students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. Nationally, 50 students are selected as Silver Scholars and receive $1,250 scholarships, and 50 students nationally are selected as Bronze Scholars and receive $1,000 scholarships. Faith Byars of Umpqua Community College was named a 2021 Silver Scholar, while Jordyn Tippett of Southwestern Oregon Community College was named a Bronze Scholar.
2020-2021 All-Oregon Academic Team
| College | First Name | Last Name |
| Blue Mountain Community College | Tonya | Evans |
| Blue Mountain Community College | Andrew | Wolotira |
| Central Oregon Community College | Tatum | Nielsen |
| Central Oregon Community College | Nelida | Ruiz-Vargas |
| Chemeketa Community College | Ivan | Dixon |
| Chemeketa Community College | Alberto | Sandoval |
| Chemeketa Community College | Josiah | Wallace |
| Chemeketa Community College | Joleen | Brickley |
| Chemeketa Community College | Isabella | Van Horn |
| Clackamas Community College | Emily | Fuentes |
| Clackamas Community College | Katie | Hodgin |
| Clackamas Community College | Keeley | Reid |
| Clatsop Community College | Valerie | Mannix |
| Columbia Gorge Community College | Kylie | Moltzen |
| Columbia Gorge Community College | Theresa | Schugt |
| Klamath Community College | Rachel | Ferguson |
| Klamath Community College | Mark | Larsen |
| Klamath Community College | Maria | Ocampo Solano |
| Klamath Community College | Christina | Patton |
| Lane Community College | Deepti | Gautam |
| Lane Community College | Nora | Jackson |
| Lane Community College | Shawna | Staff |
| Mt. Hood Community College | Kim | Vu |
| Oregon Coast Community College | Melissa | Hernandez-Pacheco |
| Oregon Coast Community College | Cora | Kehr |
| Portland Community College | Andrew | Clark |
| Portland Community College | Casey | Dudek |
| Portland Community College | Tom | Farrenkopf |
| Portland Community College | Audra | Lein |
| Portland Community College | Lenaya | Martin |
| Portland Community College | Jessica | Betts |
| Portland Community College | Paul Salvattore | Gonzalez Herrera |
| Portland Community College | Brea | Nazareno |
| Portland Community College | Heidi | Brown |
| Portland Community College | Justin | Cory |
| Rogue Community College | Dava | Nimmo |
| Rogue Community College | Natasha | Robinson |
| Southwestern Oregon Community College | Jordyn | Tippett |
| Tillamook Bay Community College | Dylan | Bringuel |
| Treasure Valley Community College | Hannah | Berger |
| Treasure Valley Community College | Maria | Montes |
| Treasure Valley Community College | Chase | Wilcox |
| Umpqua Community College | Faith | Byars |
| Umpqua Community College | Elizabeth | Turner |
Please find the four featured student scholar videos on our website or by visiting our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrE3oiJtH2YHhIHTUXgjC-8FJH4lpD_z5
