The Cerritos College Academic Excellence Awards was held on April 5, which recognized students who are excelling academically.

The event was created in 1981 to recognize the academic accomplishments of students from various departments throughout the college.

To qualify for the Excellence Awards, the students must meet criteria of completion of minimum 30 units with 3.3 grade point average or higher, completion of nine units in the area of recognition with 3.5 GPA or higher, and the recommendation of a faculty member in the area of recognition.

In total, 62 students were selected for this excellence awards by their respective faculty members. Other than excellence awards, 14 students also collected College Foundation Scholarships, with one student, Anay Palafox, receiving dual scholarships.

Among those Talon Marks interviewed, faculty members and students alike, typically attributed motivation and hard work for their main reason for success, rather than aptitude.

Mark Fronke, a professor for accounting, said he nominated a former student, Nunes John, who had taken four classes under him for the past couple of years receiving a GPA of some 4.0, and that in fact, he was the type of student the professor even designed exams around in order to challenge him, but that it proved no hurdle.

“He was well prepared, always in class and hard working,” Fronke said, wishing that they all were like that.

Jerry Ramos, a Business Administration instructor said that he was there to support student success and acknowledge those who have done their best to meet the challenges of their lives.

Ramos,spoke about the student that he nominated, saying,”She goes above and beyond.”

Carlina Cruzz said she is very grateful that Professor Ramos nominated her, but that she never expected an award at all, although it was a lot of sacrifice.

In the Theater Department, Georgia Well, a faculty member, said she chose student, Erik Mann because of a high GPA and for being an outstanding student.

Mann said, although he was originally auditioned to play Mercutio in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, it is good news that he ended up with taking the lead role of Romeo.

Dr. David Betancourt, the Director of bands and Orchestra, who took a leading role in organizing this event, nominated three of his students for the excellence award, and said typically students who are nominated for this award traditionally are not new students but have been here a couple of years before they are nominated.

However, one such student, Mike Herrera said without the college that gave him specialist instructions on applied music, he would not have reached the level he did. This comment was also was supported by another music nominee, Joel Tercera, who said the college really has helped him because there are private instructors and he is not so much a musician as a performer.

Ali Akil, Chemistry Major, nominated for a natural sciences award had no doubt about what it took to achieve his goal: sheer hard work and perseverance.

Veronica Laguado, who was receiving the biology award and also a scholarship, said it was a lot of hard work to get there, but her good memory also helped.

Deborah Moore, Faculty Senate President, during her speech said those who succeed do not succeed not because they are brighter than anyone else, but find something they care about and then put in the work and time, and that this is true if you are a welder, musician or doctor.

Keynote Speaker Dani Carroll from the Dental Hygiene department was given the Educator of the Year Award, delivered an impressive, speech including a parable about how helping each other also can improve wellbeing.