TRENTON –Two Mercer County Community College (MCCC) students were among  those honored by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) during its 19th annual Phi Theta Kappa Day celebration, held May 2 at the Trenton Marriott.

Each year the NJCCC hosts the event to recognize the state’s 40 best community college students as members of the New Jersey All-State Academic Team, who are selected based on grade point average (GPA), outstanding community service, leadership abilities, and recommendations from instructors. The event is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community colleges, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

Honorees included Melody Hicks of Trenton, who earned her associate degree in Business Administration in December, and sophomore Anderson Monken of Lawrenceville. Monken is also the recipient of a $2,000 New Century

Scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation for being New Jersey’s top community college student, and was invited to address the group of students, faculty, and administrators from the state’s 19 community colleges.

"Community college represents a crossroads for anyone who decides to enter our doors," Monken told the packed ballroom. "While some may call community college a detour, I call it a direct route to success. For each student, community college can be a way out, a way in, and a path to the future."

Monken’s experience with MCCC began at the age of 10 as a performer at Kelsey Theatre. After a home school education, he began his academic career at Mercer at the age of 16. He currently serves as president of the MCCC Student Government Association and remains active in the Boy Scouts. A Liberal Arts major concentrating in Political and Legal Systems with a 4.0 GPA, Monken has received a full scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University this fall

Monken said that it was his leadership experiences that helped him attain his personal goals.

"Success is not just an arbitrary piece of paper handed to you at graduation," Monken said. "Success represents the sum total of the connections you have made and the lessons you have learned. The journey, in fact, can be more rewarding than the destination. I know my time at Mercer has been unforgettable."

An NJ STARS scholar, Hicks graduated from Mercer in December with a 4.0 GPA and served as treasurer of the Alpha Theta Gamma chapter of PTK and treasurer for the Student Government Association. As member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Hicks placed third in a statewide microeconomic competition and was invited to compete at the organization’s national leadership conference. She also won the National Westminster Bank Scholarship for Business Administration.

After graduation, Hicks enrolled at The College of New Jersey, where she is majoring in Accounting with the goal of becoming a certified public accountant. Hicks said she enjoyed her time at Mercer, and credits her extracurricular and classroom experiences in helping her make a smooth transition to a four-year college.

"I loved being at Mercer. Classes were small, and the teachers really seemed to care," Hicks said. "You can accomplish great things if you put your mind to it and have great people behind you. I’m really going to miss community college"

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