All-Alabama Academic Team
Gadsden, Ala. – Two Gadsden State Community College students were named to the All-Alabama Academic Team, a program of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Mariela Rios Balboa and Nadia Katbi were honored at the All-Alabama Academic Team Recognition Luncheon on April 19, 2019, at the Marriott Prattville Hotel and Conference Center at Capitol Hill. They received a $1,000 academic scholarship through the All-USA Academic Program.
All-Alabama Academic team members are nominated by the faculty and reviewed by a selection committee. To be eligible, students must have a 3.25 minimum grade point average, complete at least 12 hours at the nominating college and be involved in campus activities. Each community college in the Alabama Community College System nominates two students. The team nominees are also entered in the All-USA Academic team competition, which is sponsored by USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa.
Balboa, an international student from Bolivia, graduated from Gadsden State on May 9, 2019, with an associate degree in general studies. She attends Jacksonville State University, where she is a studying respiratory therapy.
At Gadsden State’s 2019 Honors Day, Balboa received the highest honor given – the Allen-Ray Award, named for the late Sen. James B. Allen and the late Jack Ray, former CEO of the Exchange Bank of Alabama. Both men were active supporters of Gadsden State. She also received the Outstanding International Student Award.
Balboa is known for the many activities she participated in at Gadsden State. She volunteered extensively with the International Office, where she led or assisted with such events as the International Tea, the International Festival and the Students Without Borders weekly presentations. She was selected as the international student representative for the evaluation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for Gadsden State’s reaccreditation. She also represented the College at the Student Leadership Institute hosted by the Alabama Community College System. Balboa was elected to the Gadsden State Homecoming Court in 2018 and 2019.
Balboa served as the president of Gadsden State’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and has served as the club’s representative at the annual PTK convention. She also was a member of the Student Government Association. She has volunteered with two medical mission teams who provide primary medical, dental and physical therapy services to the under-served in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. She is included in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.
Katbi came to the U.S. from Syria in 2012 as a 15-year-old high school student who did not know how to speak English. She became a successful college student on the President’s List with a 3.8 GPA. While at Gadsden State, she served as the president of the TRiO for Success Club and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Circle K service organization and Students Without Borders. She served as a tutor in Gadsden State’s Cardinal Tutoring Center.
She was elected as the 2019 Homecoming Queen at Gadsden State.Katbi earned an associate degree in general studies in August and continues to take courses at Gadsden State.
The Alabama College System’s All-Alabama Academic Team Recognition Program was established in 1995 as an enhancement to the All-USA National Academic Team Recognition Program, which is sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the American Association of Community Colleges and USA Today.
