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March 5, 2009
Mid-South Community College Student Named Arkansas’ New Century Scholar, Will Represent State at National Convention
WEST MEMPHIS – Mid-South Community College student Lori Hall has been named Arkansas’ 2009 New Century Scholar, and she will represent the state at the American Association of Community Colleges convention in April.
Hall, the state’s highest scoring student in the All-USA Academic Team/Coca-Cola All-State team competition, will join fellow honorees at the AACC convention in Phoenix, Az. She will receive a $2,000 educational stipend and will be included in an April issue of the USA TODAY newspaper.
Since enrolling at MSCC in the summer of 2005, Hall has excelled in the classroom and in service to the college and the community. She currently serves as president of Mid-South’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She is also a participant in the Career Pathways program at MSCC.
“Lori was one of the best students I have ever had,” said Mid-South Community College history instructor Sherry Sanders Gray. “She is self-motivated, an energetic learner, respectful, and a great public speaker. I have taught thousands of very bright students in my career, but I will not forget Lori. She is exceptional.”
Dr. Peter Azah Abanda, MSCC science instructor, met Lori in the spring of 2008 when she enrolled in his Physical Science class. He was “immediately impressed by her diligence, work ethic, and sense of direction.”
“I find her to be very organized, highly professional and extremely knowledgeable. She seems to get along very well with her peers, and her communication skills are also excellent. I am confident that she will continue to excel, and I congratulate her on a great achievement.”
Mary Field, MSCC Learning College Leader and Communications instructor, described Hall as “a joy to work with. She is always concerned about the quality of her assignments. She went above and beyond in my Oral Communications class by volunteering to participate in the annual speech tournament. She continues to seek out advice on projects and represents all the best qualities in a successful student.”
Rev. David Moose, pastor of the Rosewood Methodist Church and a Phi Theta Kappa cosponsor said Hall’s achievements are inspiring.
“Her academic accomplishments should remind all of us not to underestimate what our young people are capable of doing,” Moose said. “I congratulate her on being named a New Century Scholar and look forward to seeing her progress much further in her schooling and as a community servant.”
A 25-year-old single mom with three children under the age of seven, Hall will graduate in May with an Associate of Arts degree. She plans to apply for the nursing program offered on the MSCC campus by Arkansas State University and hopes to work in healthcare while pursuing additional education. Hall’s ultimate goal is to earn a master’s degree in literature and teach.
When she enrolled at MSCC during the summer of 2005, Hall began to lay the groundwork for a brighter future. In 2006, she earned Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges’ Academic All-Star recognition at MSCC.
“Since I was little, I have loved school,” she said. “I especially love English, reading, and poetry. I could probably have 12 degrees and would still want to go to school.”
The New Century Scholars program is sponsored annually by the Arkansas Association of Community Colleges, The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, and Phi Theta Kappa. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is providing up to $450,000 in educational awards for the top community college students in the country.
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