Northeast Texas Community College students Hannah Dickson and Rhylie Anderson received recognition as the top two Texas STAR Scholars at the Phi Theta Kappa Texas Regional Honors Institute held at Dallas Baptist University July 27-29. They were two of 12 recipients from throughout the state of Texas.
The scholarship recognizes students with outstanding academic ability, demonstrated leadership, and involvement within the community. Recipients must be returning to a community college.
Both Dickson and Anderson serve as officers of Alpha Mu Chi, NTCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and are Presidential Scholars in Honors Northeast.
“Hardworking and thoughtful, with a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the community, Hannah and Rhylie are very deserving of this recognition. I’m delighted to see them honored in this way,” said Dr. Melissa Fulgham, advisor for the Alpha Mu Chi chapter of PTK.
Dickson serves as head of the PTK chapter’s Research Committee for Honors in Action. Last March in Stillwater, she received a Boe Award from the Great Plains Honors Council for her essay entitled “Sounds of Survival: The Human Need for Music.” A Presidential Scholar, Dickson received the Eckman Award for Excellence in the HuMusic Honors Seminar. Dickson is highly involved in her local church and the home school community, where she volunteers and teaches others. She also helped prepare a home for The Pure Hope Foundation which assists sex trafficking victims. Ultimately planning to obtain a doctorate in psychology, Dickson plans to focus on mental health and assist others overcome difficulties and make the most of their lives.
"I was simultaneously shocked and humbled when I received the news. Jesus Christ has blessed me more abundantly than I could ever ask (Ephesians 3:20). Additionally, I am grateful for the invaluable help I received from both Dr. Fulgham and Dr. Skaar,” said Dickson.
Phi Theta Kappa judges ranked Dickson’s application as the strongest among all those received in the entire state, and awarded her the top prize, the Dr. Mary Hood STAR Scholarship, worth $1,000. This is the second time that an Alpha Mu Chi member took the top honor for the summer scholarship application. Brenda Godoy did so last summer.
Anderson serves as the PTK Chapter President and submitted what judges ranked as the second highest scoring application, also valued at $1,000. Last March, Anderson received a Caldwell Award at the Texas State Historical Association meeting in San Marcos for her paper entitled “The Politics of Futility: African-American Leadership in Late 19th Century Texas,” which will be published in an upcoming edition of Touchstone journal. Her volunteer activities have focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. A graduate of Winnsboro High School, Anderson plans to pursue a degree in psychology.
“I am honored to be recognized as a Texas Star Scholar and proud to be a Phi Theta Kappan,” said Anderson.
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations.
Dickson and Anderson are the 10th and 11th NTCC recipients of the Texas Star Scholarship. Brenda Godoy and Rachel Jordan received STAR Scholarships in 2017, Emma Shaw in 2016, Angelica Fuentes in 2015, Kayleah Cumpian and Tyler Reynolds in 2014, Stephen Milburn in 2013, Cory Myers in 2012, and John Herron in 2011.
