Three Eastern Florida Students Make State Top Scholar Team

Three Eastern Florida State College students have been selected to the prestigious 2015 All-Florida Academic Team for their outstanding scholarship and work in the community.

The students are: Samuel Brown, who is seeking an Associate in Arts Degree on the Melbourne campus; Leonia Hunt, who is pursuing an Associate in Arts Degree on the Cocoa campus; and Marisol Pallante, who is working toward a College Credit Certificate on the Palm Bay campus.

The All-Florida Academic Team consists of 124 students from the 28-member Florida College System that includes Eastern Florida.

They are nominated by their colleges and selected based on high achievement in the classroom, leadership on campus and service to the community.

The students have also been nominated to the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by USA Today and the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society.

“Leonia, Samuel and Marisol are shining examples of students who use their collegiate experience to both excel in the classroom and engage in the larger world in which they live,” said Dr. Jim Richey, president of Eastern Florida.

“That makes them role models for their fellow students and future leaders in our community and state. All of us at Eastern Florida are extremely proud of them.”

Maureen Groom, a PTK co-advisor and English instructor on the Melbourne campus, called the students’ accomplishments even more remarkable considering there are nearly 880,000 students enrolled in the Florida College System.

“They are truly the best and brightest,” said Groome. “What they have done is amazing.”

Members of the All-Florida Academic Team will be formally recognized during an April 9 awards ceremony in Tallahassee.