Press contact: Kyla Kruse
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College students Amelia Horn of Mason City, Farren Ackerman of Virden and Olivia Marchizza of Auburn were honored April 25 as members of the Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team. The annual banquet sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board, honors top community college students from across the state.
Horn is a second-year occupational therapy assistant student at LLCC. She will be graduating this December and hopes to be hired through one of her fieldwork sites. Horn says, “The occupational therapy program has been a joy for me, with my teachers being so kind. I have made friends that will last a lifetime and am very glad to be where I am.”
Ackerman is a member of the PTK Project Committee and president of the LLCC Chemistry Club. She works in the college chemistry and biology labs, and has been named to the vice president's list (2022) and president's list (2023). Ackerman is also proud to be an Eagle Scout. She plans to transfer to University of Wisconsin, Madison, to pursue a degree in geology/chemistry.
Marchizza currently serves as vice president of scholarship for the Alpha Epsilon Kappa chapter of PTK. She been named to the president's list three semesters and was recently named a Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar. Marchizza plays for the women's basketball team at LLCC. She is CPR certified and first-aid trained and has worked for four years as a lifeguard at Knight's Action Park, where she is now a waterpark lead. Marchizza plans to transfer out-of-state after she graduates from LLCC and looks forward to pursuing a career in occupational therapy or speech pathology.
Nominees are selected by their college based on a rigorous application process. Each nominee submitted an application detailing their leadership philosophy, academic and leadership experience, and significant leadership endeavors. PTK is the leading international academic honor society for students at two-year colleges, and its All-Illinois Academic Team honors outstanding Illinois community college students and highlights the high-quality education provided by the 48 public community college and six private two-year colleges in the state.