Lone Star College-CyFair’s Shrestha Datta and Ivanna Porter have been named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Texas Academic Team, which recognizes those outstanding students excelling in academics, leadership and service.
“These amazing officers have served and led in an extraordinary manner this past academic year and it is a pleasure to see their efforts rewarded,” said Leslie Jewkes, co-advisor of LSC-CyFair’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Beta Lambda Mu Chapter with Dr. William Schultz.
These Beta Lambda Mu Chapter officers are among the 100 outstanding community college students selected statewide for this honor. The University of Texas System with The Texas Association of Community Colleges will recognize the team in an upcoming medallion ceremony and reception at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Datta, who is from India, and Porter, who was home-schooled, said being members of the All Texas Academic make them feel proud, not only of their hard work and accomplishments, but to represent LSC-CyFair.
While both upcoming May graduates have not decided where they will transfer yet, Datta plans to become a neurosurgeon and Porter is pursuing an economics-related government career.
“As a neuroscience major, I want to delve into research concerning different brain disorders, but mostly neural disorders and cancer,” said Datta, who is a member of LSC-CyFair’s Psychology Club and Women in STEM.
In addition to participating in student organizations and tutoring for Service Learning projects, Datta has volunteered for Junior Achievement Inspire, Science Olympiad, the Houston Food bank and a Zambia Marathon Run.
A member of LSC-CyFair’s Economics Club and Alpha Omega Ministry, Porter has also served as moderator, peer coach and tutor on campus in addition to volunteering at various student and community events.
“I found the skills needed to study both economics and government were skills I enjoyed utilizing such as research, communication of complex ideas, and real-life application of math and science,” said Porter. “Studying the interconnection of these topics led to the discovery of my dream job in the Office of Economic Advisers.”
Both these campus leaders have also conducted and presented several research projects at various conferences. However, their work in writing the Beta Lambda Mu’s Honors in Action paper took months of primary and secondary research and ultimately earned the chapter Phi Theta Kappa’s Outstanding Honors in Action Award at the regional convention.
“Without the assistance of Ivanna (chapter vice president of service) and Shrestha (chapter president) our chapter would not have achieved its 5-star rating and several regional awards this year,” said Jewkes. “They have served and led in an extraordinary manner this past academic year. We are proud of their accomplishments and selection to be part of the All Texas Academic Team.”
For information on LSC-CyFair’s award-winning chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honorary organization for community college students, email Leslie.A.Jewkes@LoneStar.edu or William.Schulz@LoneStar.edu.