All-Arizona Academic Team

The All-Arizona Academic Team is part of a national All-USA recognition program co-sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, USA Today, and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of the two-year college.

Each fall semester, the college selects up to 18 students (two per campus/center) to represent NPC on the statewide All-Arizona Academic Team. This honor provides a full tuition waiver scholarship to any of the three public in-state Arizona state universities, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona for up to 60 credits to complete his or her bachelor's degree. Recipients additionally receive a one-time award from NPC ranging from $500 to $1,000.

All of Arizona's public community colleges select members for their college's All-Arizona Academic Team, who are then eligible to compete for additional scholarships, awarded by the national office of Phi Theta Kappa, as part of the All-USA Academic Team. 

• Read the article about last year's team!

The tuition waiver begins the FALL semester following the spring awards luncheon. There are provisions for part-time enrollment to allow time to complete the 60 credits. The application for this scholarship becomes available in early fall each year.

Watch this video about All-AZ benefits, eligibility and deadlines.

• Eligibility
• Important Considerations
• All-AZ Academic Team Q&A
• Past Winners

Please review the eligibility criteria carefully. If you do not meet all the criteria, you will be disqualified from participating in the NPC All-AZ Academic Team, the All-USA Community College Academic Team, the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team, the New Century Scholars Program, or any All-State Community College Academic Teams.

State law prohibits the Arizona Board of Regents from awarding scholarships/tuition waivers to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

• Be enrolled through December 2020 in a minimum of six (6) semester credit hours [or nine (9) quarter credit hours] of associate degree, college-level coursework at the time of application.
• Hold a minimum of a 3.50 cumulative grade point average out of a possible 4.0 on all college-level coursework completed in the past five years.
  • Include all transcripts, fall 2015 – present.
  • GPA is evaluated at the time of application, and no courses can be marked as incomplete. Student must maintain a 3.50 or higher GPA through the fall 2020 semester to remain eligible.
• Be on track to earn an associate or a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent of a U.S. associate or bachelor's degree).
• Applicants must have a minimum of 36 semester (or 54 quarter) college‐level credit hours completed at or transferred into an associate degree or certificate program by December 31, 2020, and 48 semester (or 72 quarter) college‐level credit hours by August 31, 2021.
  • To be considered for the Coca‐Cola Academic Team, the student must be enrolled at least part‐time at a college for the fall 2021 semester. Proof of enrollment will be requested.
  • To be considered for the New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship, the student must be enrolled at least part-time at a college for the fall 2021 semester. Proof of enrollment will be requested.
  • To be considered for the New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship, the student should be entering the workforce prior to fall 2021 after completing a certificate or associate degree.
• Not have previously been nominated for the All‐USA Academic Team or the Coca‐Cola Academic Team.
• Hold permanent or temporary residency in the country of the college the student is attending or possess a visa considered appropriate by the college. Please see the help article or application for acceptable documents verifying proof of citizenship.
  • Students who attend a college in the United States do not need to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
  • Students attending colleges outside of the United States need to be members of Phi Theta Kappa and may only apply for the New Century Pathway Scholarship programs.
• Have a college record free of suspension, probation or other serious disciplinary action.
• Not have a criminal record, or if a convicted felon, must have all conditions of sentencing, including parole/probation, completed.

Click Here for More Information on Eligibility and for the All AZ Academic Team Applicant Guide!

Who do I contact to waive tuition at my University? Click HERE for information!

Important considerations for nominees:

• Nominees must realize anything they submit in the nomination form could be made public through the media. Students must consider carefully the possibility that, should they win, publicity about their accomplishments – work with support groups or advocacy, for example – could carry implications about their personal lives or immigration status. In fairness to all nominees, and because winners' forms are used as the basis for news coverage of the teams, contents are subject to rigorous fact-checking.
• All nominees must send official transcripts reflecting fall 2020 grades and credits by January 15, 2021. Failure to submit these transcripts will result in the application being eliminated from consideration of national scholarships.
• The program seeks to honor outstanding students who also represent the range of students found on American community college campuses. Traditional, non‐traditional and early start students all have been named to the All-­USA Community College Academic Team/Coca-­Cola Community College Academic Team. Those seeking associate degrees, as well as those intending to earn a bachelor's degree, are eligible.
• Transcripts are evaluated when a student's application is received. The student’s GPA is evaluated at the point of admission. Remedial or developmental courses are removed and are not counted toward the student's required total courses or toward the cumulative GPA. If there is a question about the student's grades or credits, and whether or not they are eligible, it may benefit the student to have the transcript evaluated prior to submission.
• Judging criteria include academic excellence and intellectual rigor, leadership and service, and how students have extended their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. It is a merit award based on what students have done while attending community college, rather than a need-­based scholarship.
• The centerpiece of the nomination is the 500-­word essay describing the nominee's most significant endeavor while attending community college, in which the student extended his or her community college education to benefit the school, community or society. Students who have demonstrated leadership and initiative in service learning, who contributed to scholarly research, or who have made lasting contributions to your campus or community may make excellent candidates. If endeavors are not yet complete, they must be far enough along so that the nominee and adviser can discuss the specifics of work done thus far.
• The program is an "academic" team, so the student's academic record is important. Judges look at the overall academic record and how well students' courses match their career goals. The form allows students to explain circumstances that may have affected the student transcript, so students with several withdrawals or a temporary drop in grades should not necessarily be ruled out. However, a nominee with more than a couple unexplained withdrawals will not typically advance in competition.
• The discussion questions are meant to give judges a sense of the nominee's background and time commitments outside of school. The program is open to part‐time as well as full-­time students, so the answers help the judges place the nominee's accomplishments into context. The questions should not be interpreted to mean students must have overcome obstacles or be somehow disadvantaged in order to be named to the All-­USA Community College Academic Team.
• Please note that USA TODAY and Follett Higher Education Group have been granted exclusive press coverage of any winners selected from the All-­USA Community College Academic Team nominations. Students named to the All-­USA Community College Academic Team are not allowed to be announced publicly until presented at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Annual Convention.
• Please note that all nominees will be required to go through a verification process. College nominators must notify Phi Theta Kappa if a nominee faces any type of disciplinary action during the time between nomination and public awarding at the annual AACC Convention.
• Should you be selected as an All-­USA Academic Team Scholar or New Century Scholar, you are expected to attend the recognition program held at the AACC Convention. Your college is responsible for covering your travel and accommodation expenses to attend.
• Nominees need not be members of Phi Theta Kappa.

• How do I use my All-Arizona Academic Team waiver?
  You must apply and be admitted to either, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona. You will need to contact the financial aid office of the institution you choose to attend for procedures in using your waiver. The phone numbers are provided in your letter.
   
• I am planning to stay at the community college and take additional classes before I transfer. When am I required to transfer to the university to use my waiver?
  You have up to one year to begin using your resident tuition waiver. The waiver covers a maximum of 60 credit hours, not to exceed IO semesters, excluding summer. Be certain you work with academic advisors at the universities and community colleges to take the classes you need before you transfer. You are encouraged to complete your Associate degree before transferring to the university system.
   
• Can I use the waiver if I attend the university part-time?
  Yes, the waiver can be used for part-time or full-time enrollment. You are encouraged to attend full-time but you can attend part-time. You are required to take a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester.
   
• Can I use the waiver for more than 60 credit hours at the university if I attended less than two years of classes at the community college before transferring?
  No, the waiver covers a maximum of 60 credit hours, not to exceed IO semesters. If you need more than 60 credit hours to complete your university degree, you will be required to pay for those credits using your own funds, or other financial aid for which you may be eligible.
   
• Can I use the waiver for summer sessions?
  No, the waiver can be used only for Fall or Spring Semesters.
   
• Can I use the waiver for distance education, or at a university branch campus, or other site?
  Yes, the waiver can be applied to all Arizona university classes as long as your total semester enrollment is 6 or more credit hours.
   
• I am a non-resident for tuition purposes. Can I use the waiver to cover non-resident tuition?
  No, the waiver covers only the resident portion of tuition. You must pay the difference using your own funds, or other financial aid for which you may be eligible.

• The All-Arizona Academic Team is part of a national, All-USA recognition program co-sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, USA Today, and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of the two-year college.
• In addition, the highest-scoring student in each state in the All-USA Academic Team competition will be named a New Century Scholar and will receive a scholarship of $2,000.
• Community colleges provide each honoree with a cash award and, since 1998, the Arizona Board of Regents has provided a tuition waiver for up to 60 credits to any Arizona public university.
• National rules restrict nominations to two students from each NPC campus & center location, for a possible total of 18 nominees each year.

If year appears as a link, it takes you to the news article about the team members.

Year	NPC Student	Campus	Team Position
2020	Kaylen Benito Paige Murray Jeffrey Hamilton Thomas Parada Tabitha Adams Samuel Rosales Rosalee Jones Derek Flake Brealyn Nielsen Samantha Roberts Reuben Williams	LCC LCC PDC PDC SCC SCC SPE STJ STJ WMC WMC	First, Coca Cola Bronze Scholar Second Second Third Third Third Third Second Second Third Third
2019	Ashley Demaria Cassie Dows Rhonda Krouse Tiffani Martin Nicole McConnell Lori Moore Larrilynn Oso Raney Pate McKenna Ault Austin Stanislawski Susan Thompson Jaden Willis	LCC SPE SCC PDC PDC STJ LCC SPE WMC SCC STJ WMC	Third Third Third Second Second Third Third Third Second Third Third Third
2018	Cuitlahuac Aguilar Chelsey Anchondo Tiana Begay Rosalia Burr Amanda Hatch Breanna Jakary Ashley Jarmillo Tirzah Jessop Robyn Krise Tracy Reidhead Madison St. Hilaire Jeff Whiting	WMC LCC PDC SPE SCC WMC STJ PDC LCC SPE SCC STJ	Third Third Third Third First, National Silver Scholar Third Third Third Third Second Second Third
2017	Edgar Acosta Kimberly Baber Lauren Burson Talaina Fisher Jayden Gubler Barbara Hawkins Nicole Krause Gavin McInelly Sydney Miller Juliet Moreno Amber Shepard Valon Standerfer Teresa Wise	SCC LCC WRV PDC PDC LCC SPE WMC SPE STJ STJ SCC WMC	Third Third First Third Third Third Third Third Second Third Third Second Third
2016	Morgan Black Eloy Carranza,Jr. Mark Crump Rachel Hancock Christine Harper Tristadawn Ison Ashley McLaws Savannah Meritt Trysta Meyer Toni Odom Cary Pearson Erica Pullin Lori Rothlisberger Ted Seipp Ariel Shirley	PDC WRV SPE SCC WRV WMC LCC LCC STJ STJ SCC HOPI SPE WMC PDC	Second Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third First
2015	Sara Anderson Jennifer DoBell Moira Hamilton Kasey Johnson Charles Manley Ashley McDowell Daniel McGee Kelcee Moore Alfredo Ortiz Lauren Peters Isaac Schimmel Jenna Ché Shockey Laurie Shyann Vance	WMC PDC WMC WRV SJ SPVL SCC PDC SJ LCC SCC LCC SPVL	Third Third Second Third Third Third Second Second Third Second Third Second Third
2014	Stephanie Adams Cody Elliott Karah Flake Michelle Johnson Rachael Murphy Kyle Nowell Julie Peck Christina Scott-Ford Sterling West	SCC SPVL WMC SJ WMC SCC SJ PDC LCC	Second Second Third First Second Third Second Second Third
2013	Rachael Antonio James Brimhall David Ciminski Amanda Crawford Kimberly Fore Beth Harbold Ayla Hayden Tashawna Jones Teresa Keele Emily Kortan Terry Laws Anthony Meza Xu "Shirley" Xie	WRV SCC SJ SJ PDC WMC PDC LCC LCC SPVL SCC SPVL WMC	Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Second Second Second Second Third Second
2012	James Godwin Jill Sartain Nick Chase Melissa Jacob Beverly Cloud Jeremy Hargrove Tyler Holden Zachary Pemberton Barbara Akins Amy Fairbanks Jennifer Lewis	PDC PDC WMC WMC SCC SCC SJ SJ SPVL SPVL LCC	Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Second Third Third
2011	Angel Cerritos Douglas Chlarson Hope Francisco Jon Griffith Ryan Orr	SCC SCC SPVL WMC WMC	Third Second Second Second Second
2010	Brittany Michelle Bender Erin Cureton Brandy Hatch	WMC WMC SCC	Third Third Third
2009	Todd S. Butler Nathan Chase	WMC WMC	Third Second
2008	Amy Critser	WMC	First
2007	Alan France Shavon Desmond Alyssa Jacobsen Rebecca Oplinger Peter Parent David Singer Patty Singer	WMC LCC WMC LCC PDC PDC SCC	First, New Century Scholar, All-USA First Team Third Third Third Second Second Third
2006	Christopher Boblett	WMC	First
2005	Erin Meelhuysen Rose Oplinger Roxie Roes	WMC LCC PDC	Third Second Third
2004	Brisa Barnett Breanna Daves Ruth Creek-Rhoades Heidi Wiessner	WMC SCC PDC PDC	Second Second Second Third
2003	Sheena B. Barnett Ronald G. Bishop, Jr.	WMC Heber/WMC	First Third
2002	Christine Dao Kimberley Plant	WMC WMC	Second Third
2001	Rusty D. Crandell Jennifer K. Tanner	Heber/WMC WMC	Second Second
2000	Murlin G. Larson Justin R. Simmons L'Erin L. Webb Julie M. Wiessner Kristin D. Wiltbank	SCC WMC SCC PDC WMC	First Second Second Second First
1999	Denise Elizabeth Cloud Deborah S. Lewis Brian J. Mowers Clark D. Rowley Aaron D. Sadler	PDC WMC PDC SCC LCC	First Second Third First Third
1998	Connie Moon Jamin Moore Jeanette Palmer Marcia Stearns	WMC LCC SCC WMC	Third Third Third Third
1997	Carol LaBine Kelli Penrod	WMC PDC	Third Third
1996	Joni Gillespie	PDC	Third