Two Lehigh Carbon Community College students, Kara Grosso of Summit Hill, and Maria Martinez of Palmerton, have been named members of the 2017-18 All- Pennsylvania Academic Team, which is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa (the international honor society for two-year colleges), the Coca-Cola Corporation, the State System of Higher Education and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

They will be recognized at the Annual PACC meeting on April 9 in Harrisburg.

Kara Grosso is a science major at LCCC. She will major in natural sciences for her bachelor’s degree at a state university, with plans of working in wildlife habitat restoration in areas disturbed by human impact.

She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, serves as the president of the STEM Club, and played a leadership role in the design, implementation and maintenance of a native plant garden at LCCC.

In addition to taking honors courses at LCCC, Grosso works at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary as a visitor center staff member and as part of the land and facilities team.

Currently she has an internship position with Cardinal Directions LLC, an environmental consulting agency.

Maria Martinez is a business management, marketing and administration major at LCCC.

She will major in business management for her bachelor’s degree at a state university with a long-term career goal of becoming a chief financial officer.

At LCCC, Martinez is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, serving as social media coordinator for the chapter in spring 2018. She is also a member of Kappa Beta Delta, the International Honors Society for students of business, management and administration.

During the summer of 2017 Martinez was the recreational supervisor for Northern Lehigh School District and was responsible for providing engagement activities for students ages 7-13.

In addition, she has volunteered at the LCCC Foundation Clay Shoot, Raising the Paw Bingo, and for PTK during the Community College Completion Week events, Awareness Week events and other chapter sponsored programs.

Selection is competitive and students must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college and earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Community college presidents or their designated nominators may submit no more than two nominations per campus for this award. An independent panel of judges considers outstanding academic rigor, grade-point average, academic and leadership awards, and engagement in college and community service in the selection process.

Each member of the All- Pennsylvania Academic Team receives a full two-year scholarship to any of the universities in the PASSHE system and competes at the national level for scholarships from the All-USA Academic Team and the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team.