April 14, 2023: Two Lorain County Community College students have been named in the top 150 community college students in the country and in the top 10 community college students in Ohio.
Noor Deif, 16 from Lorain, was named a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Kwabena Agyemang, 20 from North Ridgeville, was named a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Both Agyemang and Deif were also named to the All-Ohio First Academic Team-Top 10 and will each receive an additional $500 scholarship. The Coca-Cola Academic Team recognizes 50 scholars from across the country with gold, silver or bronze status. In addition to scholarships, Deif and Agyemang will also receive commemorative medallions.
“Noor and Kwabena are remarkable students who are making an impact on our community,” said LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D. “Not only are they academically exceptional, but they also have committed themselves to bettering the world around them through service. I’m thrilled for their placement as Coca Cola scholars and the top community college scholars in Ohio.”
Deif is a junior in LCCC’s Early College High School, where she is completing two associate degrees while attending high school on LCCC’s campus. Beginning in her sophomore year, she joined LCCC’s Early Scientist research group. Under the direction of LCCC Professor Harry Kestler, Ph.D., the group completes graduate-level research in HIV. Deif is also a member of the LCCC chapter of the American Society of Microbiology, the LCCC Early College High School Link Crew, and the Lorain High School National Honor Society. She also works in a daycare, where she is a caregiver and helper for infants and preschoolers.
Deif has been active in her mosque, the West Cleveland Muslim Association (WCMA), where she has assisted in teaching children the religion of Islam, as well as the Arabic language. She is fluent in Arabic and English.
Deif carries a 4.0 GPA and will graduate in 2024 with both an associate of arts and an associate of science degree, along with her high school diploma. She plans to transfer to a four-year university to major in biology and pre-medicine. She aims to attend medical school and become an obstetrician-gynecologist.
“I am incredibly honored to win these scholarships. I am immensely proud of myself and grateful to those who have supported me, including Dr. Harry Kestler and my wonderful mother Najwa Alnimer,” Deif said. “I will continue to work even harder to become the most successful version of myself.”
Agyemang is passionate about mathematics. He began taking LCCC classes while a student at North Ridgeville High School, where he graduated in 2021. He continued at LCCC with the Diversity Incentive Award and will graduate in May with an associate of science and an associate of arts.
Agyemang applies his mathematics skills as the treasurer of LCCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. In this role, he helps plan and execute service projects that benefit the LCCC community, as well as those in need around the world through the club’s Honors in Action project.
Off campus, Agyemang works as a pharmacy technician at CVS Pharmacy. In his role, he helps customers access needed medications in a timely manner.
After his LCCC graduation, Agyemang plans to transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics. He aims to continue working toward a master’s degree with the goal of working healthcare as data analyst.
“I feel blessed to be able to be recognized for all the hard work I have put in over the past two years,” Agyemang said.
Deif and Agyemang will be recognized in a virtual statewide ceremony hosted by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges and during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Columbus, Ohio, on April 20.