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April 24, 2006

Calhoun's Kellum Honored Among Nation's Top Students

For an unprecedented seventh time, a Calhoun Community College student has been recognized as one of the top two-year college students in the entire country. Calhoun student Marty E. Kellum was recognized today as one of 20 students named to the prestigious and coveted USA TODAY's 2006 Academic All-USA Community College First Team.

The formal announcement of the members of the 2006 All-USA Academic Teams was made this morning during the American Association of Community College's Annual Convention in Long Beach, California. Marty, along with the students comprising the Academic First, Second and Third teams, is featured in a full-page article published in today's issue of USA TODAY.

A resident of Athens, Alabama, Marty is a Math major with a perfect 4.00 grade point average. He was recently honored by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students, as Alabama’s New Century Scholar for 2006. As a New Century Scholar, Marty is the highest scoring student from the state of Alabama in the All-USA Academic Team competition and will receive a $2,000 cash award, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Marty is a member of the All-Alabama Academic First Team for 2006 and serves as a Senator for the Student Government Association and as President for Sigma Kappa Delta, the international English honorary society for two-year colleges. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and is a staff writer for the Warhawk Herald, Calhoun’s student newspaper. Marty plans to transfer to The University of Alabama in Huntsville to pursue a double major in Mathematics and Physics, with a concentration in Astrophysics. His ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Astrophysics and eventually teach college level physics and/or mathematics.

Commenting on his two-year college experience, Marty said, “If not for Calhoun Community College, I would still be working in a job that was unsatisfying instead of preparing me for the future that I always dreamed of. A four-year institution would never have allowed me the flexibility and opportunities that Calhoun has.”

In addition to Marty, other Calhoun students who have been honored among the nation's top two-year college students have been Todd Fentress, recognized in 1989 as the nation's first ever National Student Scholar among two-year college students when only one student from the entire country was recognized; Kelly Cain, a 1991 Academic All-American First Team member; Sharon Owens, a 1992 Academic All-American Second Team member; Cynthia Holden, a 1993 Academic All-American First Team honoree; and Mary Tate, a 1998 Academic All-American First Team member, and Chad Kelsoe, a 2001 Academic All-American Second Team member.

“I know I speak for the entire Calhoun Community College family when I say how very proud we are of Marty and this tremendous honor. Marty was selected from among thousands of two-year college students as one of the nation’s top 20. This accomplishment speaks highly of his academic ability and outstanding talent,” commented Calhoun President Marilyn Beck.

Coverage of this release:

• Community College Times, Tuesday, April 11, 2006 issue, p30
• Athens man named in nation’s Top 20 students, The Athens News-Courier, Wednesday, April 26, 2006 issue
• Calhoun student named among USA Today top 20, The Decatur Daily, Tuesday, April 25, 2006 issue, p. C6
• 2 local students reap national recognition for hard work: Calhoun's Marty Kellum, UAH's Derek Chris hailed, The Huntsville Times, Tuesday, April 25, 2006 issue, p. A1
• USA Today's 2006 Community College All-Stars, USA Today, Monday, April 24, 2006 issue, front page

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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