(l-r) Dr. Ray Harris PTK advisor, Joel Barron, second team winner, Dr. Johnny Allen, ----------------(l-r) Barbara Shackelford, PTK advisor, Cody Burchell, first team winner, Dr. Johnny Allen,
NEMCC president

NEMCC STUDENTS NAMED TO ALL-MISSISSIPPI TEAM Cody Burchell of Booneville and Joel Barron of New Site, both sophomores at Northeast Mississippi Community College, have been named to the 2008 All-Mississippi Academic Team for Community and Junior Colleges.

Burchell, a radiologic technology major, is a graduate of New Site High School. At Northeast he is co-president of the college’s Iota Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the official honor society of two year colleges. Barron, a graduate of Red Bay (Ala.) High School is a music education major serves with Burchell as co-president of PTK at Northeast.

Previously Burchell served as vice president of service for the Iota Zeta chapter and was the northern district representative for the Mississippi/Louisiana Region of Phi Theta Kappa for two years. He was recently named a Golden Key award winner.

In addition to Phi Theta Kappa activities, Burchell is president of the Photon Club at Northeast, an association for the radiologic technology program.

At Northeast Barron has been very active in theatre, taking on leadership roles backstage as well as on stage. He has worked as actor, singer, narrator, stage manager, assistant stage manager, props manager, office assistant and assistant director during his two-year association with Northeast theatre. In addition, he has been one of three drum majors for the Tiger Marching Band for the past two years and has assisted the admissions staff as a Tiger Ambassador.

Members of Northeast's faculty named Burchell and Barron to Who's Who among American Junior College Students for two years.

Fifty Mississippi community and junior college students have been named to the All-Mississippi Academic Team, which recognizes the scholarly achievements and leadership accomplishments of students enrolled in community, technical and junior colleges across the state of Mississippi. Students will be recognized by the Mississippi Legislature at a luncheon in Jackson March 19.

"By being named to the All-Mississippi Academic Team and having earned membership in Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, many of these students will receive substantial scholarship offers to attend senior institutions in Mississippi and across the nation," said Rod Risley, executive director of the Jackson-based Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

"Research suggests that these students’ level of academic achievement at the senior college will equal, if not exceed, that earned while attending their community/junior colleges."

Students named to the All-Mississippi First Team compete for placement on the national All-USA Academic Team for Community and Junior Colleges, sponsored by USA TODAY, Phi Theta Kappa, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Phi Theta Kappa administers the All-State and All-USA Academic Team Programs from its Jackson, Mississippi-based Headquarters. The First All-State Academic Team Program was launched in l994 in Mississippi. This year, 34 states will sponsor All-State Academic Team programs using the All-Mississippi program as a model.

"Selected from among the more than 100,000 students enrolled in Mississippi's Community and Junior Colleges this year, these students through their academic and leadership accomplishments represent the very best of those attending our colleges," Northeast President Johnny Allen said.