Five Montgomery County Community College students were among 47 community college students recently selected for the All-Pennsylvania Academic/Workforce Team awards by the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. The awards recognize students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to their colleges and communities.

MCCC students Katherine Araya, Maple Glen; Ezinne Ottih, Cheltenham; Zachary Perales, Pottstown; and Kaitlyn Stewart, Royersford, were named transfer scholars and will be continuing their education following their graduation from MCCC. Barry Hunsberger of Trooper was named a workforce scholar, and he plans to pursue his career following graduation.

To qualify for the award, transfer students must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Workforce students must have a minimum of 12 college-level credit hours at a community college and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities to provide scholarships to All-PA Transfer Team members at PASSHE institutions, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school.

A Liberal Arts and Science major and co-president of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Araya plans to transfer and continue her education after graduating with her associate’s degree from MCCC. Araya participated in many activities, such as campus clean-up, speaking at the PTK induction ceremony and creating flyers to promote PTK. Her goals are to obtain her doctorate and eventually conduct research in the neuroscience field.

With aspirations to make the world a healthier place, Ottih wants to become a cardiologist. In the fall, she wants to transfer to University of Pennsylvania to continue her education in biology. As the public relations officer of the business club, Phi Beta Lambda, and a member of student government, Ottih helped to promote and create survival packs for MCCC’s Stock-Up for Success food pantry program.

Perales, also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, is taking computer science courses at MCCC while balancing family responsibilities. His plans are to transfer to Temple University to continue his education in computer science. He has a niche for the art of coding and wants to one day start his own company in software engineering.

With a passion for math and teaching, Stewart plans to continue her education at Bloomsburg University to become a secondary education math teacher. Off campus, she enjoys teaching children at JRNY Church.

Hunsberger serves as co-president of MCCC’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, which gave him the opportunity to compete and win first place in the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America competition. His goals include earning his associate’s degree in Business Administration while starting his own photography business.