AUGUSTA — Fourteen Maine community college students will be honored Tuesday as members of the 2011 All-Maine Academic Team for two-year colleges, the Maine Community College System announced today.

The event will be hosted by the system’s board of trustees and held at 10:30 a.m. at the Senator Inn in Augusta.
   
Students receiving the award and a $500 scholarship are: Gail Bennett, Otisfield, Central Maine Community College in Auburn; Suzanne Cohen, Sabattus, Central Maine Community College; Alexander Wallace, Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor; Helen Chamberland, Hampden, Eastern Maine Community College; Kera Cummings, Pittsfield, Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield; Melanie Morin, Fairfield, Kennebec Valley Community College; Jessica Gal, Bridgewater, Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle; Jonathan Post, Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College; Justin Chapin, Harpswell, Southern Maine Community College in South Portland; Rachel Champoux, Westbrook, Southern Maine Community College; Evelyn “Elaine” Murphy, Eastport, Washington County Community College in Calais; Melanie Small, Dennysville, Washington County Community College; Diane Dense, Wells, York County Community College in Wells; and John Fatula, Buxton, York County Community College.

The All-Maine Academic Team is part of the national Phi Theta Kappa program, an international honor society for two-year colleges. Students are nominated and selected for the team by each college based on outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service.

Here’s a detailed look at each 2011 team member:

Gail Bennett, Central Maine Community College, Auburn
Residence: Otisfield    GPA:  3.67
Major: Accounting Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa chapter president
2010-11; Women in Technology; TRIO tutor; animal shelter pet drive
volunteer; CMCC transfer fair volunteer; Walk for Hunger and Heat
project volunteer.

Suzanne Cohen, Central Maine Community College, Auburn
Residence: Sabattus  GPA: 3.6
Major: Accounting  Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa member; TRIO tutor;
Women in Technology member; Young Marines of Lewiston/Auburn volunteer;
CMCC transfer fair volunteer.

Alexander Wallace, Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor
Residence: Bangor GPA: 3.82
Major:  Electrical and Automation Technology Achievements: Phi Theta
Kappa; peer-to-peer academic tutor; college entrance exam proctor; Red
Cross blood donor; College Harvest and Tech Days volunteer.

Helen Chamberland, Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor
Residence: Hampden GPA: 3.93
Major: Business Management/Accounting Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa;
Pink Tulip Project volunteer; Operation Green volunteer; Harvest Day
volunteer; Founders Week Activities volunteer; Great American Smokeout
volunteer; Manna Food Drive volunteer; Student Ambassador; peer tutor.

Kera Cummings, Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield
Residence: Pittsfield    GPA: 3.93
Major: Biological Sciences Achievements: Student note taker volunteer;
Campus Activities Board; Penny Wise Thrift Store volunteer; Assistant to
the Director of Student Development.

Melanie Morin, Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield
Residence: Fairfield GPA: 3.89
Major: Liberal Studies /Nursing Achievements: Kennebec Montessori school
volunteer; Maine Pineland Suzuki Association volunteer; Daisy Scouts
volunteer.

Jessica Gal, Northern Maine Community College, Presque Isle
Residence: Bridgewater GPA: 3.7
Major: Nursing Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa; clothing drive volunteer;
Student Nurses Association secretary; gift tree coordinator; Academic
Success Center tutor; flu shot clinic volunteer; participant in the Fall
and Winter Expo 2010 at the Presque Isle Forum; Campus Clean-up
volunteer.

Jonathan Post, Northern Maine Community College, Presque Isle
Residence: Presque Isle GPA: 4.0
Major: Nursing  Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa president; Coca-Cola
All-State Community College Bronze Scholar; Presidential Scholars Award;
Dean’s List; Student Nurse’s Association; Pregnancy Care Center Walk for
Life volunteer; Carol Makenna Thanksgiving Outreach volunteer; Annual
Holiday Light Parade volunteer; Spring Flower Sale Fundraiser volunteer;
Campus Clean-up volunteer; church volunteer.

Justin Chapin, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland
Residence: Harpswell GPA: 3.7
Major: Liberal Studies, Political Science concentration Achievements:
Phi Theta Kappa; Student Senate; Student Welfare and Retention
Committee; Walk for Hunger and Homelessness volunteer; soup kitchen
volunteer; political campaign volunteer; Odyssey Day volunteer; Honors
in Action Project volunteer; Mainestay volunteer.

Rachel Champoux, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland
Residence: Westbrook GPA: 3.77
Major: Liberal Studies, Math Concentration Achievements: Maine’s New
Century Scholar; Phi Theta Kappa president; student orientation welcome
leader volunteer; The Center for Student Involvement and Leadership
staff assistant; Seawolf Robotics Team; Student Senate; Learning Works
volunteer; peer tutor; Mainestay volunteer.

Evelyn “Elaine” Murphy, Washington County Community College, Calais
Residence: Eastport GPA: 3.9
Major: Medical Assisting Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa; American Cancer
Society’s Annual Relay for Life volunteer; local school volunteer; PTK
Basket Raffles volunteer; Haunted Trail volunteer; Santa Day volunteer.

Melanie Small, Washington County Community College, Calais
Residence: Dennysville GPA: 3.72
Major: Business Management Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa;
underprivileged Afghanistan school children fundraiser volunteer; WCCC
Art Exhibit volunteer; Student Awareness Safety Brochure volunteer; Bowl
for Kids’ Sake volunteer; American Red Cross volunteer; Literacy
Foundation for Children of Washington County volunteer; PTK Basket
Raffles volunteer; nursing home volunteer.

Diane Dense, York County Community College, Wells
Residence: Wells GPA: 3.88
Major: Culinary Arts Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa; North Star TRIO
mentor and tutor; College Council student representative; 3-A-Day Dairy
Competition award recipient; President’s Award/culinary arts; Taste of
the Nation fundraiser volunteer; Wayside Preble Street Soup Kitchen
volunteer; Wells Senior Center volunteer; blood drive volunteer;
advocate for the visually impaired.

John Fatula, York County Community College, Wells
Residence: Buxton GPA: 3.96
Major: Liberal Studies Achievements: Phi Theta Kappa; YCCC Student
Development and Enrollment Steering Committee; Buxton Blazers member and
volunteer; peer tutor.