LCCC Students Named 2021-22 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team Members

Two Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) students, Michelle Kenstler of Kempton and Jace Izellah Mary of Whitehall, have been named members of the 2021-22 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, which is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa (the international honor society for two-year colleges), the Coca Cola Corporation, the State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC).

Michelle Kenstler is a psychology major at LCCC, a member of the Honor Scholars Program and serves as president of the LCCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Michelle chaired the chapter’s Honor in Action Project, “The Legacy of Rituals,” which received fourth place at the regional recognition PTK Middle States convention. Michelle has volunteered at chapter events including the Fall 2021 Transfer Fair, the chapter college project and coordinated volunteer outreach with the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown. She also attended the PTK 2021 Honors Institute and completed the PTK Transfer Edge course. She plans to continue her studies in psychology at Kutztown University in pursuit of a career as a professional counselor.

Jace Izellah Mary graduated from Whitehall High School and is a physical sciences major at LCCC. She serves as president of the Student Government Association, vice president of the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and is in the Honors Scholars program. Jace works as a peer mentor and has volunteered at numerous college events including New Student Convocation, Open House, Fall Fest, as well as PTK projects and events. In addition, Jace was selected as a Bronze Scholar on Coca-Cola’s 2022 Academic Team and was selected as a Krysta Hankee Memorial Scholarship recipient. Selection as a Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar is based on scores the student earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition, for which more than 2,000 applications were received this year. Jace, who is the daughter of immigrants, plans to continue her education in pursuit of a career in biomedical engineering.

Selection for the academic team is competitive and students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Community college presidents or their designated nominators may submit no more than two nominations per campus for this award. An independent panel of judges considers outstanding academic rigor, grade point average, academic and leadership awards, and engagement in college and community service in the selection process.

Each member of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team receives a full two-year scholarship to any of the universities in the PASSHE system and competes at the national level for scholarships from the All-USA Academic Team and the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team.

Michelle Kenstler

Jace Mary