STLCC Students Receive Honors for Academic Excellence
Several St. Louis Community College students have been recognized as some of the best
and brightest scholars in the nation and in the state of Missouri.
Kristen McDonald from Meramec has been named a Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Bronze Scholar.
She will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
McDonald is the vice president of fellowship for Meramec’s Xi Lambda chapter of Phi
Theta Kappa, president of the Service Works Club, and vice president of the Student
Honors Council. McDonald will graduate as an honors scholar in May with an associate
degree in general transfer studies. In the fall, McDonald plans to pursue a bachelor's
degree in nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her goal is to become a
nurse anesthetist and work in a professional hospital setting.
The Coca-Cola Foundation scholarship program recognizes high achieving two-year 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 program is administered by Phi Theta Kappa.
All-Missouri Academic Teams
Eight STLCC students were named to the 2020 All-Missouri Academic Teams, an honor
bestowed on the state’s top community college students by the Missouri Community College
Association and Phi Theta Kappa.
Kristen McDonald was joined by Meramec classmate Clayton House and Khanh Pham from Forest Park on the All-Missouri Academic First Team.
Clayton House is the vice president of communications for the Xi Lambda chapter. He serves as the
treasurer of the Service Works Club and is an active member of the Business and Accounting
Club. He is pursuing an Associate in Arts degree. Upon graduation in May, House plans
to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting
and later a master of accountancy. His goal is to become a certified public account,
and work as a forensic accountant for the FBI.
Khanh Pham is the executive vice president of the Xi Epsilon chapter at Forest Park. She also
is a member of the Chemistry Club and Service Work Club. Pham will graduate in May
with an associate degree in general transfer studies. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s
degree in pre-medicine. Her goal is to become a dermatologist.
Wildwood student Charles Dent was named to the All-Missouri Second Team.
Dent serves as the vice president of service for Wildwood’s Beta Rho Epsilon chapter.
He also is the student representative for STLCC’s College Senate. He is pursuing an
associate degree in general transfer studies. After graduation, he plans to double
major in philosophy and political science, and then work toward a doctorate in law.
His career goal is to practice in public interest or environmental law.
Students selected to the All-Missouri Third Team were Caroline Appel and Nasra Barre from Florissant Valley, Julia Green from Forest Park, and Zane Hunter Graham from Wildwood.
Caroline Appel is an active member of the Florissant Valley’s Pi Kappa chapter and serves as vice
president of publishing. She will graduate in May with an associate degree in general
transfer studies. Following graduation, she plans to transfer to Southern Illinois
University-Carbondale and study special education. As a student, Appel is hard working,
passionate and precise. In the future, she hopes to teach and empower elementary students
who have cross-categorical disabilities.
Nasra Barre was born and raised in Kenya, where she lived until she was 19 years old. She came
to Missouri to work her way through school and sends money home to her parents and
siblings. Barre will graduate in May 2021 with an associate degree in nursing. Following
graduation, she plans to transfer to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to study
nursing. An active member of Pi Kappa, Barre considers it an adventure, continuous
learning process and privilege to touch the lives of others while caring for senior
citizens with dementia at Dougherty Ferry Assisted Living and Memory Care. In the
future, Barre hope to work as a nurse.
Julia Green is a senior at the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience with St. Louis Public
Schools and attends STLCC-Forest Park through the Early College Academy. She will
graduate from both institutions this spring, earning an associate degree in general
transfer studies from STLCC. Green is a member of Forest Park’s Xi Epsilon chapter
and is in the Honors program. She has been on the Dean’s List her entire time at STLCC,
and has completed 15 credit hours of honors projects, including English, nutrition,
oral communications, and personal health and hygiene. Green has been accepted at the
University of Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri Baptist University, and has been offered
a full scholarship to attend UMSL. She plans to study nursing and eventually become
a nurse practitioner.
Zane Hunter Graham is the vice president of leadership for Wildwood’s Beta Rho Epsilon chapter. He also
serves as the president of the Green-for-Life Club and is a member of Wildwood’s Student
Budget Committee. He is pursuing an associate degree in general transfer studies,
and studied abroad in Canterbury, England, last fall. Upon graduation this May, he
plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in media communications at Webster University.
His goal is to build a career in film, television and video production.
About the All-Missouri Academic Teams
Members of the All-Missouri Academic Team are selected based on the extent to which
they meet the definition of the word “scholar,” which PTK defines as “one who excels
in the classroom, has the intellectual curiosity to pursue an academic career and
cultural enrichment outside the traditional classroom, shows evidence of substantial
development of talents in academics and technical education, and has demonstrated
an ability to share this development with others.”
Students from each of Missouri’s 25 Phi Theta Kappa chapters apply to be on the All-Missouri
Academic Team. Each student received a cash scholarship and a medallion from MCCA.
Phi Theta Kappa is the national honor society for two-year colleges.
