Nutt, Graves Chosen for All-USA Academic Team

ASHEBORO (December 11, 2006) – Sarah Nutt of Asheboro and Mindy Graves of Randleman, both Associate in Arts (College Transfer) students at Randolph Community College, have been chosen to represent RCC on the All-USA Academic Team for 2007.

The All-USA Academic Team program annually recognizes 60 outstanding two-year college students. All 60 members and their colleges receive national recognition through coverage in USA Today. The program is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Selection for the team is based on nominations submitted by community college presidents. Each community college may nominate two students.

The RCC All-USA Academic Team 2007 Committee solicited nominations from RCC faculty, receiving a total of 13 nominations, of which 10 nominees were eligible according to the following criteria:

• post a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA
• have completed 45 semester hours by 12/01/06
• be working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree
• participation in honors programs
• awards, honors, and recognition for academic achievement
• service to the college and community

The 10 eligible nominees were then invited to submit an application, which included a 500-word essay on his/her most outstanding intellectual endeavor. Five nominees returned their completed application packet by the deadline. The committee then selected two students to represent RCC at the national level. Their nomination application and essays were approved and signed by RCC President Dr. Larry Linker and submitted to Phi Theta Kappa for selection from all national nominations to be part of the 2007 Team at the AACC national conference in spring 2007.

Sarah Nutt will finish her associate degree in May and has applied to three schools: Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.; Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga; and Duke University in Durham. Born in Durham, she grew up in Asheboro and graduated from Fayetteville Street Christian School. Nutt wants to major in English education with a Spanish minor and English as a Second Language licensure so she can teach in a Spanish-speaking, Third World country as a missionary. At RCC, she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Government Association. In addition, she represented RCC in a speech competition last spring, traveled to Costa Rica in RCC’s Study Abroad program last summer, and has been a math and English tutor for Student Services. She is the daughter of Michael and Linda Nutt of Asheboro.

Mindy Graves graduated from RCC with a 4.0 GPA, receiving her Associate in Applied Science in Office Systems Technology in May 2006. She is currently taking classes in the College Transfer program with hopes to transfer to Guilford College and major in Business Administration. At RCC, she is a member and treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa, received the Academic Excellence Award from the North Carolina Community College System and has been on the President’s List. Graves currently works as an adjunct instructor for RCC in the Business Technology department, and she hopes to be able to teach school permanently. She is the daughter of Richard and Joyce Graves of Randleman.

Mindy Graves	Sarah Nutt