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. 

The tuition waiver begins the FALL semester following the spring awards luncheon/ceremony. 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. 

• 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 2024 in a minimum of six (6) semester 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 2019 – 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 2024 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).[1]
• 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, 2024, and 48 semester (or 72 quarter) college‐level credit hours by August 31, 2025.[2]
  • To be considered for the Coca‐Cola Academic Team, the student must be enrolled at least part‐time at a college for the fall 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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 residency.
  • 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.[3]

Workforce Pathway applicants should be on track to earn an associate degree, career or technical certificate prior to fall 2025.

Workforce Pathway applicants must have a minimum of 6 semester (or 9 quarter) college-level credits of associate degree coursework completed by December 31, 2024, with an established GPA at the time of application.

Students who have a criminal record are eligible to apply but may not qualify for all programs. PTK Scholarships will reach out with any follow-up questions.

All‐USA Academic Team Applicant Guide

Overview
Applicants considered as nominees may be pursuing an associate degree, career or technical certificate, or intend to transfer to the four-year school. The All-USA Academic Team is a merit award based on your accomplishments while pursuing your associate degree. Judging criteria include academic excellence and intellectual rigor; leadership and service; and how you have extended your education beyond the classroom to benefit society. Nominators are asked to consider a wide variety of information in the application:  the body of the student’s academic work; the student’s participation in honors programs; any awards, honors, and recognitions for academic or leadership achievement; and service to the college and community when selecting the college’s nominees. Nominees selected may be considered role models on their campus. Nominators are asked to consider students they feel would be a proud representation of their college.

Leadership Considerations
The centerpiece of your application is the essay describing your most significant endeavor since attending college in which you applied your academic or intellectual skills learned during your college experience to benefit the school, community or society. Judges look for innovative, creative, original and lasting achievements or undertakings. Your endeavor can be based in community service, research, the arts, journalism or public affairs. Students who have demonstrated leadership and initiative in service learning, who contributed to scholarly research, or who have made lasting contributions to their campus or community make excellent candidates. If endeavors are not yet complete, they must be far enough along so that the nominee and recommender can discuss the specifics of work done thus far.

Academic Considerations
The program is an "academic" team as well, so your academic record is important. Judges look at the overall academic record and how well your courses match your career goals. Transcripts are evaluated when a student's application is received, and GPAs are evaluated at the point of submission. Remedial or developmental courses are removed and are not counted toward the student's required total courses or toward the cumulative GPA. The application allows space for you to explain circumstances that may have affected your transcript, so if you have experienced several withdrawals or a temporary drop in grades, please detail the reasoning on your application. It will not necessarily rule you out of the competition; however, research shows statistically that students with several withdrawals do not achieve high academic rigor. As a result, a student nominee with more than a couple of unexplained withdrawals will not typically advance in competition. Judges will view your course information over the history of your college attendance.

The discussion questions posed are structured to give judges a sense of your background. The program is open to part‐time as well as full‐time students, so the answers to discussion questions give the judges a sense of your commitments outside of school so that your achievements can be seen in context. The questions should not be interpreted to mean that you must have overcome obstacles or be somehow disadvantaged in order to be named to the All‐USA Academic Team.

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 grades and credits by mid-January of each year. 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 of unexplained withdrawals will not typically advance in the 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.
• 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 another 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.

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

Note, the video's references to the 2020 academic year should now be noted as 2024.

• 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.

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

Year	NPC Student	Campus/Center	Team Position
2024	Sara Chevalier Cassey Drew Jillian Henry Simone Jean Jaden Martinez Kayla Mason Arina Mortensen Ashley Myers Camille Shumway	Show Low St. Johns Whiteriver Hopi Show Low Snowflake/Taylor Springerville/Eagar Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor	Second Second Second Second Second First First Second First
2023	Deedra DeWitt Ashlyn Dighans Emily Harris Paige McKenna	Show Low Holbrook Show Low Snowflake	Third Third Third Second
2022	Angelica Abeita David Aberle Ashlyn Adakai Hannah Bahr Ashton Bishop Erica Novak Jamie Ortega Britainy Pennington Jolie Selestewa Lauren Stidham Kaylen Wilson	Hopi Holbrook Winslow Springerville/Eagar Holbrook St. Johns Show Low Winslow Whiteriver Show Low Snowflake	Second Third Third Second Third Third Second Second Third First Second
2021	Tyler Allen Jessica Austin Layton Bauer Angela Colwell Emmalee Hall Trace Hancock Jocilyn McCleve John McGaughey Kiarra Yazzie	Show Low Kayenta Holbrook Show Low Whiteriver Snowflake/Taylor Snowflake/Taylor Springerville/Eagar St Johns	Second Third Second Second Third Second Third Third Third
2020	Kaylen Benito Paige Murray Jeffrey Hamilton Thomas Parada Tabitha Adams Samuel Rosales Rosalee Jones Derek Flake Brealyn Nielsen Samantha Roberts Reuben Williams	Winslow Winslow Holbrook Holbrook Snowflake/Taylor Snowflake/Taylor Springerville/Eagar St Johns St Johns Show Low Show Low	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	Winslow Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor Holbrook Holbrook St Johns Winslow Springerville/Eagar Show Low Snowflake/Taylor St Johns Show Low	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	Show Low Winslow Holbrook Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor Show Low St Johns Holbrook Winslow Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor St Johns	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	Snowflake/Taylor Winslow Whiteriver Holbrook Holbrook Winslow Springerville/Eagar Show Low Springerville/Eagar St Johns St Johns Snowflake/Taylor Show Low	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	Holbrook Whiteriver Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor Whiteriver Show Low Winslow Winslow St Johns St Johns Snowflake/Taylor Hopi Springerville/Eagar Show Low Holbrook	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	Show Low Holbrook Show Low Whiteriver St Johns Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor Holbrook St Johns Winslow Snowflake/Taylor Winslow Springerville	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	Snowflake/Taylor Springerville/Eagar Show Low St Johns Show Low Snowflake/Taylor St Johns Holbrook Winslow	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	Whiteriver Snowflake/Taylor St Johns St Johns Holbrook Show Low Holbrook Winslow Winslow Springerville/Eagar Snowflake/Taylor Springerville/Eagar Show Low	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	Holbrook Holbrook Show Low Show Low Snowflake/Taylor Snowflake/Taylor St Johns St Johns Springerville/Eagar Springerville/Eagar Winslow	Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Third Second Third Third
2011	Angel Cerritos Douglas Chlarson Hope Francisco Jon Griffith Ryan Orr	Snowflake/Taylor Snowflake/Taylor Springerville/Eagar Show Low Show Low	Third Second Second Second Second
2010	Brittany Michelle Bender Erin Cureton Brandy Hatch	Show Low Show Low Snowflake/Taylor	Third Third Third
2009	Todd S. Butler Nathan Chase	Show Low Show Low	Third Second
2008	Amy Critser	Show Low	First
2007	Alan France Shavon Desmond Alyssa Jacobsen Rebecca Oplinger Peter Parent David Singer Patty Singer	Show Low Winslow Show Low Winslow Holbrook Holbrook Snowflake/Taylor	First, New Century Scholar, All-USA First Team Third Third Third Second Second Third
2006	Christopher Boblett	Show Low	First
2005	Erin Meelhuysen Rose Oplinger Roxie Roes	Show Low Winslow Holbrook	Third Second Third
2004	Brisa Barnett Breanna Daves Ruth Creek-Rhoades Heidi Wiessner	Show Low Snowflake/Taylor Holbrook Holbrook	Second Second Second Third
2003	Sheena B. Barnett Ronald G. Bishop, Jr.	Show Low Heber/Show Low	First Third
2002	Christine Dao Kimberley Plant	Show Low Show Low	Second Third
2001	Rusty D. Crandell Jennifer K. Tanner	Heber/Show Low Show Low	Second Second
2000	Murlin G. Larson Justin R. Simmons L'Erin L. Webb Julie M. Wiessner Kristin D. Wiltbank	Snowflake/Taylor Show Low Snowflake/Taylor Holbrook Show Low	First Second Second Second First
1999	Denise Elizabeth Cloud Deborah S. Lewis Brian J. Mowers Clark D. Rowley Aaron D. Sadler	Holbrook Show Low Holbrook Snowflake/Taylor Winslow	First Second Third First Third
1998	Connie Moon Jamin Moore Jeanette Palmer Marcia Stearns	Show Low Winslow Snowflake/Taylor Show Low	Third Third Third Third
1997	Carol LaBine Kelli Penrod	Show Low Holbrook	Third Third
1996	Joni Gillespie	Holbrook	Third