GSC student named to All-USA Academic team

MCLEAN, Va. - A Gainesville State College student is one of 20 community college students chosen for USA Today's 2009 All-USA Community College Academic First Team.

Juan Llanes, a native of Cuba, and the 19 others were chosen from among more than 1,400 nominees... honored for "outstanding intellectual achievement and leadership." Each will receive a $2,500 cash award.

Llanes says he credits much of his academic success to the teachers he has had and his curiosity, especially "learning about things, such as English," which he did not speak when he arrived in the U.S. only tjree years ago. He plans to continue his education at Georgia Tech and then, perhaps, M.I.T., the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The annual recognition program, administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, honors outstanding two-year college students. Phi Theta Kappa will award additional scholarships through the Coca-Cola All-State Academic Team program and the New Century Scholars Program, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the Coca Cola Foundation. These include scholarships worth a total of $437,500 to 350 other outstanding community college students.

"USA TODAY is pleased to be able to honor academic excellence and community service throughout the country," said USA TODAY executive editor John Hillkirk.

Following are the 20 First Team members:
*Andrea C. Andrada, Elgin Community College, Elgin, Ill.
*Diane B. Belcher, New River Community College, Dublin, Va.
*Tabata Borali, Suffolk County Community College, Western, N.Y.
*John R. Butenhoff, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, Minn.
*Trishelle Copeland-Johnson, Seminole Community College, Sanford, Fla.
*David J. Curry, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, Calif.
*Yiqing Liz Dong, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
*Kristin Grenier, Maysville Community and Technical College, Maysville, Ky.
*Martha A. Hall, Southwestern Community College, Sylva, N.C.
*Colette Jordan, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
*Kelly Lintecum, Central Arizona College, Apache Junction, Ariz.
*Juan A. Llanes, Gainesville State College, Gainesville, Ga.
*Lorie J. Pacheco, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, N.C.
*Ann P. Parker, Holmes Community College, Goodman, Miss.
*Eric S. Place, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Gautier, Miss.
*Adam Prohoroff, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, Calif.
*David J. Sigmund, Stark State College, North Canton, Ohio
*Monirath Siv, Cerritos College, Norwalk, Calif.
*Eric W. Thompson, Mesa Community College, Mesa, Ariz.
*Shayna Wise, Howard Community College, Columbia, Md.

The team of 20 was selected by a panel of judges from almost 1,450 students nominated by community colleges across the United States and Guam. Judges considered grades, leadership, activities and, most importantly, how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.