SSC Students Honored at Statewide Awards Ceremony

Josh Hutton

Two Seminole State College students and one area high school senior were recognized at the All-Oklahoma Academic Team and Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Presidents’ Tuition Waiver Awards Ceremony on March 29 at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

SSC students Elizabeth Thomlison, of Shawnee, and Jessica Waddell, of Earlsboro, were named to the All-Oklahoma Academic Team. Tecumseh High School student Jordan Jones, of Tecumseh, was the recipient of the OACC President’s Tuition Waiver.

Pictured (left to right): State Senator Zack Taylor (R-District 28) congratulates All-Oklahoma Academic Team Honorees Elizabeth Thomlison and Jessica Waddell, as well as their PTK honor society advisor and SSC Associate Professor of Business Dr. Jeff Cheng.
Pictured (left to right): State Senator Zack Taylor (R-District 28) congratulates All-Oklahoma Academic Team Honorees Elizabeth Thomlison and Jessica Waddell, as well as their PTK honor society advisor and SSC Associate Professor of Business Dr. Jeff Cheng.

Thomlison is the president of SSC’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Her career goal is to become a history professor. In addition to PTK, Thomlison is also a member of the Student Government Association.

Jones is a member of the Tecumseh High School band, academic team and the gifted and talented program. She was also named to the Leadership Community Service Class. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Honor Society, received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence and is a recipient of the STEM award.

The honorees’ families and other guests were welcomed to the House Chambers for the ceremony by Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-District 22). They also were congratulated by Oklahoma State Chancellor of Higher Education Dr. Allison Garrett.

The All-Oklahoma Academic Team recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. The All-Oklahoma Academic Team Program provides statewide recognition to outstanding two-year college students. To be eligible, students must be nominated by their college president to the All-USA Academic Team. Nominees must be eligible to graduate during the 2021-2022 academic year and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. Oklahoma is one of 39 states participating in the State Academic Team Program. The State Academic Teams are a division of the Academic All-American Team for Community, Technical and Junior College Students, an international program sponsored annually by Phi Theta Kappa, USA TODAY and the American Association of Community Colleges. Medallions and certificates were presented to all team members.

The OACC Tuition Waiver Award is a separate award from the All-Oklahoma Academic Team and has been a part of the student award ceremony for more than 10 years. The selection process for the OACC Tuition Award winners is at the sole discretion of the college president or their designee. Each year presidents select deserving students from across the state to receive a $1,000 tuition waiver, which may be applied to tuition for the upcoming academic school year at $500 per semester. Nominees may be a graduating high school senior or attend a community college.