April is Community College Month, and four Montgomery County Community College students received statewide honors for their performance in and out of the classroom recently.

Psychology major Colin Hogan, Liberal Studies major Julie Kerwood, Business Administration major Emilio Siguenza and Computer Science major Massimiliano Simon were named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

The team is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, and The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

This recognition honors an exceptional group of community college students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated commitment to their colleges and communities. To qualify, applicants must have completed at least 36 credits and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges recognized these students with other community college award recipients from across the state during a special ceremony in Harrisburg on April 8.

Hogan, 24, of Boyertown, graduated from MCCC in December 2024 and is a member of the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of PTK on the Pottstown Campus. He was vice president of West End Theatre and is a member of Psi Beta, the Community College National Honor Society in Psychology. He’s currently majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology at Kutztown University, with future plans to study law.

“It’s extremely rewarding for me,” he said on being named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. “I worked hard in community college to maintain my GPA. Having this, it really feels special. It shows my hard work has been noticed and appreciated. As a student, it means a lot. It’s fulfilling. It helps me keeping working hard in school. The All-Pennsylvania Academic Team feels like something I have to keep working toward. I worked so hard, it’s a big motivator to keep moving forward. School’s not easy, between balancing school and life, it helps me stay focused on my goal, which is important.”

Kerwood, 48, of Dresher, is a member of Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of PTK on the Blue Bell Campus. Following graduation from MCCC in May, she plans to transfer to a four-year institution to major in education.

 "I am truly honored and grateful to receive this award. This is proof that hard work, perseverance, and dedication truly do pay off. I'm thankful for the opportunity and excited for what lies ahead,” Kerwood said.

Siguenza, 23, of Jenkintown, is president of Rotaract Club at MCCC and vice president of leadership in the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of PTK. He’s also a member of the Honors Club, treasurer of MCCC’s Phi Beta Lambda collegiate division of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and is president and founder of La Hacienda at MCCC, a club that fosters cultural pride among Latino students. He recently placed first at FBLA’s regional competition in International Business and Foundations of Economics. He plans to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a career in law and finance.

“I am honored and privileged to be selected,” he said on being named to the Team. “As a nontraditional student, I’m not one to be selected for these kinds of things. It’s pretty cool to be selected.”

Simon, 20, of Cheltenham, enrolled at MCCC in the spring of 2024 and is studying Computer Networking and Cybersecurity. Simon was a member of the Mustangs eSports “League of Legends” team and is a member of the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of PTK. His goal is to become a network administrator after completing his associate’s degree from MCCC in May.

“It feels good. I was surprised,” he said on being named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. “I think I’ve done well academically but never been a straight-A student. It’s interesting. It’s a first for me.”

Pennsylvania’s community colleges collaborate with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities to provide a tuition waiver to eligible All-Pennsylvania Transfer Team members at PASSHE institutions, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE university.