Students Named to Phi Theta Kappa 2024 All-New York Academic Team

Jefferson Community College (JCC) is pleased to announce that Kristi C. Bushey, Theresa, Loralei C. Deasy, Mexico, and Emmanuel S.A. Garrick, Theresa, have been named to the 2024 All-New York Academic Team for Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for community colleges. To be chosen for the All-New York Academic Team, students must hold a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and have a history of scholarly achievement. In addition to academic achievement, candidates are also evaluated on their leadership and community service involvement. Additionally, they will be honored for their achievements at the College’s 60th Commencement Ceremony on May 17, 2024. 

In addition to All-New York Academic Team honors, Bushey was named a 2024 New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar. Only one student from each state receives this honor and Bushey earned the highest score among all applicants from New York state. A program of PTK and The Coca-Cola Foundation, New Century Workforce Pathway Scholars are selected for their exceptional academic achievements, leadership, and extracurricular engagement. Bushey, a first-generation student, is currently enrolled in the Natural Sciences, Allied Health and Biological Sciences degree program and she has been accepted into the College’s esteemed nursing A.A.S. program for fall 2024. Bushey holds a 3.91 GPA, earning her President’s List honors. An outstanding academic scholar, Bushey is a leader, committed to helping her fellow classmates succeed. Recognizing the need for additional academic support, Bushey prepared study sets, organized study sessions for exams, and provided tutoring to help peers in her anatomy and physiology class. Furthermore, Bushey is regarded as an exemplary candidate in her role at Samaritan Medical Center, where she works in the screening and visitation department. Her career goal is to become a nurse. 

Deasy anticipates graduating with her Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Humanities and Social Sciences from Jefferson in May. Holding a near perfect GPA of 3.96 Deasy consistently earns President’s List honors. Deasy is a member of PTK and participates in Jefferson’s optional Honors Program for which she was a featured student of the month. Notably, Deasy completed three Honors Program options, along with the required Honors Program seminar, all in one semester. For one of her honors options, Deasy wrote a revised version of the 1953 Disney movie, Peter Pan, adding LGBTQ+ and Native American representation. Additionally, her short story titled “Cherry Slushies and the Trials and Tribulations of Life” is featured in the Black River Review, a journal of poetry, prose, and fine arts, the works of  JCC students, alumni, and faculty/staff. Deasy serves on the College’s Academic Standards Committee and was a member of the student panel at open house. Championing a healthier lifestyle, Deasy helped implement a Truth Initiative Grant at JCC, urging smokers to quit and raising awareness of the side effects of tobacco to deter non-smokers from ever starting. After graduating from Jefferson, Deasy anticipates transferring to a 4-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in screenwriting.  

In addition to All-New York Academic Team honors, Emmanuel Garrick was one of only two students statewide named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar for his academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service. In 2023, he was named a Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. Garrick, a first-generation student, is a dual major and anticipates graduating with his Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees in both Mathematics and Engineering Science in May. Garrick holds an outstanding 3.93 GPA, for which he has earned President’ List honors. He participates in the College’s optional Honors Program for which he was a featured student of the month. Garrick serves as president of the Student Government Association (SGA), treasurer of Jefferson’s Tau Xi Chapter of PTK, and is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. In addition, Garrick served on the campus life committee and academic calendar workgroup. He is a steel pan musician and president of the JCC music club. He performed alongside a fellow classmate at the College’s Presidential Inauguration in March and performs regularly in campus open-mic events. Garrick encourages other students to engage in co-curricular activities and proactively started a Brightspace course online whereby members of the student body can learn about SGA activities and opportunities to get involved. Garrick contributed to organizing the College's annual fall fest and Juneteenth events in addition to planning a Super Smash Brothers video game tournament that was such a hit, it turned into a weekly event. In the community, Garrick is a member of his church’s audio and visual team and lends his musical talents to various events. Garrick plans to transfer in the fall to a 4-year institution to pursue his bachelor’s degree in engineering. 

“Kristi, Loralei and Emmanuel are outstanding student scholars and role models, both inside and outside the classroom, for their peers at Jefferson Community College,” says Daniel J. Dupee, II, President. “The recognition of these three exceptional individuals as members of the Phi Theta Kappa All New York Academic Team is a testimony to their commitment and dedication to academic excellence and personal development as leaders. Congratulations to our outstanding Phi Theta Kappa scholars!"

About Jefferson Community College
Established on November 7, 1961, Jefferson Community College was the area’s first institution of higher education. Supervised by the State University of New York (SUNY), Jefferson offers 50+ associate degrees, certificates and microcredentials for career preparation or transfer; local access to bachelor’s and advanced degrees through partner institutions; lifelong learning through workshops and seminars; business and industry training; and provides community-based research and a forum for the productive discussion of ideas and issues of significance to the community through the Center for Community Studies. Jefferson is accredited by the Middle States Association and currently serves approximately 2,500 students, including a significant number of service members and their families. 

About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.