Two Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) students were recently selected and appointed to the 2012 All-Arizona Academic Team, which recognizes the top community college students in the state. Julia Kilduff and Kodiak Darling will both will receive a full, two-year scholarship and tuition waiver to any of Arizona's three state universities (ASU, UA, NAU) as a result of a rigorous application process sponsored by the National Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and international honor society, and the American Association of Community Colleges.
This year’s All-Arizona Team is composed of 69 scholars, with students placing in one of three teams. Students achieving the status of Team 1 will be eligible for the national All-USA competition and selection of the top 20 national scholars.
“Many students pursue this coveted honor, but few earn a place on the All-Arizona Academic Team each year,” says Marilyn Bradley, faculty advisor for the Beta Alpha Xi Chapter at EMCC. “Julia and Kodiak represent Estrella Mountain well, and we are very proud of their achievements.”
Kilduff was named to Team 1, placing her in the top 20 Arizona community college students. Her major is Speech and Language Pathology and plans to attend NAU. She was homeschooled from kindergarten through 8th grade, and then attended Cornerstone Charter School in downtown Phoenix. For many years, she has enjoyed being a volunteer for Muscular Dystrophy Association as a summer camp counselor.
Darling was named to Team 3 and plans to attend ASU with a goal of becoming a bioengineer specializing in the research and development of prosthetic limbs. As a graduate of Millennium High School, he chose to attend Estrella Mountain since it was close to home, and at the encouragement of friends already attending EMCC. His favorite classes are archeology and astronomy, and his research on stars has been published in the Journal of Double Star Observations. Darling also served as president of EMCC student government.
Each student must submit a 500-word essay, letters of recommendation, and an application that boasts their academic performance, leadership roles, and community engagement. Students must be a member of their campus’ chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, but are often involved in many other honors programs, scholarly activities, student clubs, plus personal commitments and goals.
Estrella Mountain Community College offers transfer-ready academic courses and job-specific occupational training to approximately 15,000 students annually. The flagship campus is located on Thomas and Dysart Roads in Avondale and the EMCC Buckeye Educational Center is located in downtown Buckeye. Estrella Mountain is part of the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the nation. www.estrellamountain.edu or www.maricopa.edu.
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