Dear Phi Theta Kappa Member,

Each year USA Today, the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa
sponsor the All-USA Academic Team competition. Ocean County College will be nominating two
currently enrolled students. You have been chosen to be considered for this nomination.

The All-USA Academic Team program annually recognizes 60 outstanding two-year college
students. First, Second and Third Teams, each consisting of 20 members, are selected. The 20
First Team members receive stipends of $2500. All 60 members receive extensive national
recognition through coverage in USA Today. All students nominated by two-year colleges in New
Jersey are invited to Trenton in May 2010 for Phi Theta Kappa day.

The eligibility requirements are delineated below:

• Must be enrolled at a community college through December 2009.

• Must have a cumulative college-level GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale for all coursework
completed in the last five years, regardless of institution attended. If the student has
attended more than one school, all transcripts will be recalculated to determine the
cumulative GPA for college-level coursework taken.
• Students must be on track to earn an Associate or a Bachelor degree. Students need to
have a minimum of 45 semester (or 60 quarter) college-level credits completed at or
transferred to a community college by December 31, 2009 and 53 semester (or 79.5
quarter), college-level credits by August 31, 2010. Students must have a minimum of 30
semester (or 45 quarter), college-level credit hours completed at a community college in
the past five years by December 31, 2009.
• Must not have been nominated previously for the All-USA Community College Academic
Team.
• Must have a community college record free of suspension, probation, and serious
disciplinary action, and must not have rights of citizenship abridged due to criminal
conduct (U.S. citizenship is not required).

In order to choose the two OCC finalists, we are asking you to submit an essay. The All-USA
Academic Team finalists are judged on a series of essays. One of these essays is based on the
following topic:

“Describe your most significant endeavor while attending community college in which you
applied your academic, intellectual or leadership skills to benefit your school, community, or
society!”

The essay is to be typed, double-spaced, and may not exceed 500 words. Use type no smaller
than 10 point. Please include your name and Ocean County College at the top of the essay.
Please use complete names rather than acronyms.

If you meet all of the eligibility requirements and you would like to be considered for nomination
by Ocean County College, please submit your essay to Dr. William Rickert in the Mathematics
Department no later than Monday, October 5, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. This is a firm deadline.

If you are chosen as one of the nominees from Ocean County College, you will be required to
write four essays (including the essay above), gather three letters of recommendation, and
complete a number of questions on an application form. This will need to be completed by Friday,
November 20, 2009. All material will need to be submitted to Dr. Rickert by that date.

If you have any questions, you may contact any of the faculty advisors from Tau Iota Chapter of
Phi Theta Kappa. The advisors are: Dr. William Rickert (x2179), Prof. Carolyn Showalter (x2158),
Prof. Robin Weitz (x2161), Dr. Joaquin Rolon (x4312) and Dr.Nancy Marashi ( x 2967). We all
wish you success in this endeavor.