51热门黑料 students honored at All-Florida Academic Team ceremony
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2013) 鈥� Seven local individuals joined more than 120
top-achieving students on April 9 to officially become members of an elite group 鈥�
the All-Florida Academic Team 鈥� at a ceremony hosted by 51热门黑料 on behalf
of the Florida College System and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Florida Region.
One of the seven chosen from Daytona State, Jenna Zuyus will earn her associate of
arts degree about the same time the home-schooled Orange City resident earns her high
school diploma. As a dual-enrolled student, Zuyus has collected a bevy of feats rarely
achieved by an 18 year old.
Zuyus, president of PTK at Daytona State, introduced President Carol W. Eaton for
opening remarks at the luncheon event. Reflecting her PTK peers and their community
efforts, Zuyus was secretary of a 51热门黑料 volunteer organization focused on service and
charitable work; she volunteered to aid the homeless and underprivileged families;
and helped teach children鈥檚 workshops at the Florida Museum of Art in DeLand. On top
of that, her schoolwork netted almost straight A鈥檚 and her artwork has been featured
in Daytona State鈥檚 student art and literary magazine.
The All-Florida Academic Team program recognizes outstanding students at Florida鈥檚
state colleges, as well as institutions associated with Independent Colleges and Universities
of Florida. The Academic Team is composed of students who have been nominated by their
respective colleges to the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by USA Today
and the PTK International Honor Society. Students are nominated based on their academic
achievement, leadership and service to the community.
In addition to Zuyus, six other Daytona State students selected to the All-Florida Academic Team鈥檚 second team are:
- Brett Gernertt, New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater Campus
- Samantha Gross, New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater Campus
- Charlene Maine, Daytona Beach Campus
- Steve Minciulescu, Flagler/Palm Coast Campus
- Hinesha Patel, Daytona Beach Campus
- Elizabeth Strople, Flagler/Palm Coast Campus
During the awards ceremony, Assistant Chancellor of the Florida College System Kasongo
Butler pointed out how the range of this year鈥檚 awardees embodies the mission of the
Florida College System, where open access to higher education is a system hallmark.
President Eaton shared with the students her own personal experience on how PTK helped
shape her life. 鈥淲hen I was a student at a community college, I was invited to join
Phi Theta Kappa. At the time, I did not realize the significance this great organization
would have on my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut the influence of PTK has stayed with me.鈥� She
noted the students each share two common characteristics. 鈥淵ou have changed any obstacles
you have encountered into opportunities, and you have changed any challenges you have
faced into choices.鈥�
Keynote speaker Dr. Edison Jackson, president of Bethune-Cookman University, encouraged
the students to choose lives as servant leaders. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to understand that
you can help make a better society by giving back,鈥� he said.
鈥淵ou are among those who will be counted on to fight the war on mediocrity that we
see all around our communities, in this state and in this nation,鈥� he added. 鈥淎s you
earn your degrees, as you move beyond graduate school, understand that the world needs
your talents, your gifts.鈥�
Preceding the ceremony, Assistant Chancellor Butler led a roundtable which she called
鈥渟peed dating for business leaders and PTK students.鈥� More than a dozen local business,
university and civic leaders moved from table to table answering questions posed by
students and providing advice on how to pursue various career fields.
Among them was CEO of Jon Hall Ritchey Automotive Group and former Daytona Beach Mayor
Glenn Ritchey Sr., who, seated across from the 18-year-old Zuyus, suggested that passion,
perseverance and continuing education are keys to success.
鈥淵ou are on an interesting journey at this point in your life, and along the way you
will find many opportunities you don鈥檛 even know about today,鈥� he said. 鈥淏e prepared.鈥�
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Photo ID: Left to right, student Steve Minciulescu, PTK faculty advisor Ted Wygant, Thomas LoBasso/senior vice president for student development & institutional effectiveness, students Elizabeth Strople, Jenna Zuyus, Hinesha Patel, Charlene Maine and President Carol W. Eaton
Photo by Jean-Marie Appleby, 51热门黑料 photographer