Cerro Coso students Kirsten Carroll and Shealan Cruise have been named to the 2015 Phi Theta Kappa All-California Academic Team, a state-wide competition co-sponsored by the Community College League of California and the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

The All-State Academic Team Program provides recognition at the state level for top community college students. Grades, leadership, and community service determine selection to the All-California first, second, and third teams. Teams are selected based on the scores nominees received from Phi Theta Kappa judges.

Carroll and Cruise are among the 92 California students chosen for this year's awards and represent some of the best of the two million students enrolled in California's 113 community colleges. Both Carroll and Cruise are members of the college's Beta Kappa Chi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa the international honor society for two year colleges that encourages academic excellence and promotes community services.

Carroll, an Anthropology major at the Ridgecrest Campus, was nominated for the award by Dr. Sarah King. She enjoyed the small class sizes at the college and the ability to interact one on one with the instructors. As an intern for the Maturango Museum for the past year, she has worked alongside Dr. King, the Museum Curator, and other interns analyzing, cataloging, and preserving the historical data of several collections. A 2014 graduate of Cerro Coso, Carroll will be transferring to the University of Santa Cruz this fall where she will continue her studies in Anthropology and ultimately earn a Master’s Degree.

Also a December 2014 graduate, Cruise attended both the Bishop and Mammoth Lakes Campuses majoring in Liberal Arts/Social and Behavioral Sciences. She is taking a year off from her studies to travel and explore other states and countries, meet new people, and experience new cultures before continuing with her schooling. Nominated for the award by Chemistry Instructor Dr. Lauren Brown, Cruise ultimately plans to change her major to Marine Biology and work at an aquarium to study the unexplored realms of the ocean. Cruise echoed the same sentiments of her classmate Carroll in her experience with Cerro Coso, “the small class sizes allow you to get more hands on instruction and get to know your instructors better,” she said.

Cerro Coso Community College congratulates Carroll and Cruise for their hard work and success.