News Release 07-133-D

Governor Kulongoski makes awards

Two UCC students honored today as outstanding community college scholars

	News Release 07-133-D	For more information:
	Release date: 04/18/08  Bentley Gilbert
	For immediate release	(541) 440-7747
	http://www.umpqua.edu/ 

Two Umpqua Community College students are among 39 Oregon community college students honored today as the 2008 Oregon Community College Association Outstanding Student Scholars.

Honored today, with 37 others from each of Oregon’s 17 public community colleges, are UCC students Rachel Faith Davis and James Michael Kunert, Jr.

Governor Ted Kulongoski recognized each of the outstanding scholars and presented them with plaques honoring their accomplishments. The students also were offered $1000 scholarships by more than 20 four-year public and private universities and colleges to which they will transfer next year.

Davis is a chemistry major who has been on the Dean’s List, the President’s List and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the world's oldest, largest and most prestigious association of community college honor students that recognizes and promotes academic excellence on 1,200 community college campuses around the world. It is an academic honors society - students must have earned at least a 3.50 grade point average and completed a minimum of 12 quarter credits in order to be invited to join.

At Umpqua Valley Christian School, Davis received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, was part of the President’s Education Awards Program, on the Principal’s Honor Roll and was the statistician for the varsity basketball team, for which she received a letter.

With a 3.93 grade point average at UCC, she plans to attend Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Active in her church, she has served on mission trips abroad to the Philippines, Uganda and Rwanda and various public service activities here.

“When I look at my personal strengths, such as math and science,” she wrote, “coupled with my desire to see people’s physical and emotional suffering relieved, my chosen career as a pharmacist satisfies both my desires and my talents.”

Kunnert, a physics major who intends to go to the University of Oregon, has been on the President’s Honor Roll, a recipient of the UCC Presidential Scholarship, and member of Phi Theta Kappa, the Outstanding Student of the Year for Business Calculus, 2005-06, and the UCC Outstanding Student of the Year for Business Transfer Program, 2006-07.

He has volunteered at Camp Millennium, a summer camp for children dealing with cancer, and enjoys hiking, weightlifting and tutoring math, economics and accounting.

“When I first made the decision to transfer to Umpqua Community College following my sophomore year in high school,” Kunnert wrote, “I did not know that I would eventually regard that decision as being one of the best I ever made.

“Working as a tutor for two years has shown me that in addition to the desire to gain knowledge,” he continued, “I have a desire to share it with others.”

Following the awards ceremony, the scholars and their families were treated to a luncheon hosted by the Oregon Community College Association. Each of Oregon’s community colleges selected up to two student scholars based upon their academic achievement and community involvement.