NORTH CANTON, Ohio, May 9, 2024 – Two Stark State College students are among 56 students from Ohio’s 23 community colleges honored for their excellence in academics, leadership and community service as part of the 2024 All-Ohio Academic Team.

Jeannine Fritz and I’Kia Martin were named third team All-Ohio Academic Team. The program is a partnership between the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), Phi Theta Kappa national honor society and event sponsor Honda.

“Ohio’s economy and the careers it supports are transforming at a thrilling pace, and our community colleges play an essential role in preparing the workforce this exciting new technology-focused age requires,” said Tom Walsh, interim president of the OACC. “The 2024 All-Ohio Academic Team, coming from all parts of the state, are in the vanguard this transformation. Their success as students and the promise they show for their chosen careers is testimony to the contributions that Ohio’s 23 community colleges are making as they help develop the well-educated, motived workforce that will drive our state’s economy for many years ahead.”

The top-performing students were nominated by college faculty, staff and leaders. In addition to first- and second-team honorees, the All-Ohio Academic Team also includes high-achieving students who are planning to move directly into the workforce.

“I am honored to congratulate these All-Ohio Academic Team members,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey. “Through their academic achievement and breadth of leadership, each will contribute to the strength and vitality of our state.”

Also, for the 20th consecutive year, Stark State College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society earned the Five Star Chapter Award, presented at the recent Ohio Region Awards Convention and PTK Catalyst in Columbus. Dave Sigmund, co-advisor of the Beta Gamma Epsilon Chapter, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, won the Dr. Mary Navarro Most Distinguished Advisor Award and the Advising Milestone Award. He also earned the Most Distinguished Advisor Award at the international level and received recognition at the PTK Catalyst Convention in Orlando, Florida.

Other Stark State PTK honors included:

• Named Top Ten Chapter
• Order of Athena Chapter Officer Award: Benjamin Nash and Abigail Crawford
• Honors in Action Theme Award: Economics of Play
• First Runner up: Honors in Action Project
• Nominated and elected as the 2024-25 Eastern District Representative for the Ohio Region: Benjamin Nash