Press contact: Kyla Kruse

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College students Zorah Austin of Virden, Justiss Perkins of Carlinville and Yasmeen Salem of Chatham were honored April 24 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.

Austin is the president of LLCC’s Honors Program Student Club and vice president of scholarship of the Alpha Epsilon Kappa chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at the college. She is the recipient of the LLCC Trustees' Honors Program Scholarship and a 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar. She is transferring to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville in the fall to earn a degree in foreign languages and literature.

Perkins is currently a community service leader and volunteer for Divinity House, a nonprofit that specializes in helping battered women and children. She plans to transfer to University of Illinois Springfield to complete a degree in psychology or business administration.

Salem works as a pharmacy tech at Walgreens and serves her community by making and donating meals to needy families during Ramadan. She is the recipient of the Pradeep & Dr. Manjula Mehta Nursing Scholarship award and is a member of Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society Beta Nu Chapter. She is currently a dual student at LLCC and SIU-Edwardsville. She plans to complete her BSN at SIUE while also working as an RN, earning an FNP (family of nursing practice) and eventually earning a doctorate.

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.