3 CCSN students nominated for USA Academic Team

Jennifer Knight

Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 | 3:31 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 4, 2003

Three students at the Community College of Southern Nevada have been nominated to participate on Nevada's All-USA Academic Team.

CCSN students Calvin Hooks, Deepa Nanayakkara and Gina Sully were chosen to represent Nevada in the 2003 competition sponsored by USA Today, the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

The scholarship competition recognizes the achievements of students enrolled in community colleges across the state. Each nominee will receive a $1,000 scholarship check and have a chance to compete for Nevada's New Century Scholar, who will be announced in April.

Students chosen for the Nevada team must have at least a 3.25 grade point average and graduate with an associate's degree by 2003.

Hooks is an engineering technology major who was last year's student government president at CCSN. Aside from being a student, Hooks also teaches at CCSN's Cisco Networking Academy.

Nanayakkara, of Sri Lanka, is graduating in May with an associate's degree in science with the goal of attending medical school.

Sully, of Henderson, is majoring in liberal arts. She plans to earn her Ph.D. in philosophy of education and educational psychology.

Other members of Nevada's All-USA Team are expected to be announced soon. One scholar will be chosen from the team to represent the state as the New Century Scholar of Nevada. That announcement will be made in April at a convention in Dallas.