By Miles Flynn | The Broadside (Contact: [email protected])

Academic excellence takes hard work and dedication, and can be rewarded in many ways. One such way is coming up June 9, when there will be an opportunity to recognize students who have worked hard for the time they’ve been at Central Oregon Community College.

Having completed at least 45 credit hours at COCC and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher, 178 students have been invited to the Celebration of Academic Excellence and will be able to spend the evening with friends, family, and other students.

Professor Jacquelyn Coe of the COCC math department is one of the coordinators of the ceremony, and believes that “it’s important to recognize students who have worked so hard to achieve such a high GPA over their time here.”

Coe added that it will be an important opportunity for “their families, many of whom have supported them through their studies, to celebrate with them.”

June 9 isn’t the only time COCC recognizes high achieving students. In April, two COCC students visited Salem to take part in the All Oregon Academic Team, a group of students from different participating Community Colleges all over Oregon who had been nominated by their school’s representative. These students had the opportunity to meet with Gov. Kate Brown for a lunch event in Salem.

One of those two COCC students was Melissa McAlexander, who will be graduating this year with a Transfer Degree in Engineering, a Transfer Degree in Business, and an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree.

“This is my second time through college, my first chosen career was sidelined due to a medical condition,” McAlexander said, “so my drive comes from experience and a desire to better my circumstances.”

“I also strive for academic excellence for my parents, my partner, and the faculty here at COCC; it’s my way of paying them back for all the support they’ve given me over the last two years.” McAlexander plans on attending the Celebration of Academic Excellence, and after graduation, spending the summer with her boyfriend and five dogs before moving to Corvallis to finish a Civil Engineering degree with a minor in business at Oregon State University. ■