Students nominated for All-USA Community College Academic Team scholarships

HFCC Honors Program students Amir El-Aswad and Kelcie Bourquin recently received nominations for the All-USA Community College Academic Team program scholarships.

This program – organized by USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa, and sponsored by the Follett Higher Education Group – recognizes 20 outstanding community college students annually throughout the country. If they win, El-Aswad and Bourquin, along with 18 other students from community colleges in 37 participating states, are eligible to receive a $2,500 scholarship and a medallion.

More than $41 million in scholarship money is available through this program. Students nominated to the All-USA Community College Academic Team are automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Team for the state of Michigan. All-State members receive special recognition, including medallions and certificates. Additionally, they will be featured in the April 2013 issue of USA Today.

“We picked these students because their academic record is great. They are also involved in several activities on campus in addition to being outstanding students,” said Dr. Nabeel Abraham, HFCC Honors Program director and a professor of anthropology.

El-Aswad, of Bloomfield Hills, is a 2011 Andover High School alumnus and chose to attend HFCC rather than a community college near his home because of the high rate of diversity on campus. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Amnesty International, and the Rotaract Club, the college affiliate of Rotary International. Additionally, he is the editor-in-chief of The Mirror News, HFCC’s student-run newspaper, and has served as an English tutor in HFCC’s Learning Resource Center (LRC). Upon graduation in 2013 with his associate’s degree in Liberal Arts, he plans to transfer to Connecticut College in New London, Conn., where he will study International Law.

“I’m really stoked. This is a tremendous honor. I’ve never received public acknowledgement for my accomplishments like this before; it’s very touching,” said El-Aswad.

Bourquin, of Dearborn, travelled to Mexico as an exchange student for an entire year after graduating from Dearborn High School in 2010. Since she arrived at HFCC in 2011, she has become a recipient of the Anthony E. Woods Scholarship, joined Phi Theta Kappa and served as the secretary of Amnesty International. She is the founder and president of the Rotaract Club.

In addition, she has served as a peer mentor and tutor in the LRC, helping students with Spanish and English. Upon receiving her associate’s degree in Liberal Arts in 2013, she plans to transfer either to Connecticut College or the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to pursue her undergraduate degree in anthropology.

“HFCC has been part of my life for a long time. I took art classes here during the summers when I was a little girl. When I returned from Mexico, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. HFCC invited me into the Honors Program. I’m very honored to be nominated for the All-USA scholarship,” said Bourquin.

To learn more about the All-USA scholarship, please visit http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/marketing/academic_teams/index.html. To learn more about the HFCC Honors Program, please visit https://www.hfcc.edu/academics/programs/honors-program.