By: Dr. Andrew Yox, NTCC Honors Director
Jordan Whelchel, former NTCC Presidential Scholar, has just accepted an offer to attend Rice University in the fall of 2020. He will receive a full-ride, full need scholarship, and pursue a degree in electrical engineering.
A member of Honors Northeast, Whelchel was the only student in NTCC history to be acclaimed as both a Cypress Bank Scholar in his freshman year, and a Texas Heritage National Bank Scholar in his second year. Besides special awards from these area banks, he received Bonnie Spencer, and Leaders of Promise cash awards while at NTCC. He presented work at the meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council in Boston in 2018, and directed NTCC’s Caldwell-Award winning film on Barbara Conrad.
Whelchel’s main field at NTCC was chemistry. He pursued research and chemistry mentoring under the direction of Dr. Drew Murphy. Dr. Murphy notes about Whelchel:
“Jordan is an exceptional student and a wonderful person. I am very proud to have had him in my classroom and in my laboratory. I knew Jordan would succeed at anything he put his mind to when we first met in General Chemistry I, but I was definitely impressed when he scored at 97 percentile score on the national American Chemical Society Two-Semester standardized Organic Chemistry final exam. He has earned every bit of his success, and I know he will bring his drive to everything he will do. I wish him all the best as he continues on to study Electrical Engineering at Rice University.”
Whelchel’s 8 May letter of acceptance from Rice University notes: “Admission has been offered only to a select few, like you whose scholastic accomplishments and contributions to community, school, and family were significant. The personal and intellectual achievements which led to your acceptance are impressive.”
Whelchel was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, a regular participant in honors trips, and a central presence of NTCC’s Math/Science building where he took biology, chemistry, physics, and higher-level math classes. Math Professor, Dr. Paula Wilhite recalls: “During the time that Jordan has been enrolled at NTCC, I have witnessed his daily commitment to achieve his educational goals. Even from my first encounter with this exceptional young man, I saw extraordinary traits and characteristics that would result in him realizing his dreams and aspirations. His acceptance to Rice University with comprehensive financial assistance is a richly-deserved acknowledgement of his diligence.”
Whelchel was a graduate of Daingerfield high school. Reflecting on his last few years of education, Whelchel said, "I am very grateful for the opportunity afforded to me by Northeast Texas Community College. My friends, professors, and classes have all helped me learn and grow as a person. Rice University was never a place I had even imagined being able to attend. But thanks to the academic and personal growth fostered at NTCC, I have been given an amazing opportunity."
