Below is the official press release regarding my recent national awards in the U.S. In short, I was awarded with America's most prestigous student award. Only top 20 community college students get the award every year.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
4/26/06
Cindy Murphy, Communications Specialis
Arapahoe Community College
Phone: (303) 797-5709
E-mail: [email protected]

ACC’s Maghakyan earns national honors

Arapahoe Community College (ACC) student Simon Maghakyan, of Littleton, has been named to USA Today’s All-USA Community College Academic First Team. This honor, co-sponsored by USA Today, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, was bestowed at the April 24 AACC convention in Long Beach, California.

Opening of the American Association of Community Colleges Convention on 22 April 2006 in Long Beach, California

Maghakyan, originally of Armenia, received an All-USA Academic Team medallion and commemorative trophy, as well as a cash award. Annually, 20 students are named to the First Team out of approximately 1500 nominees from two-year colleges across the nation. The nominees must have a 3.25 GPA and an extensive record of community and campus activities. Judges considered how well the students applied their academic and intellectual skills in the various communities in which they live, work and learn.

While attending the AACC convention, Maghakyan was also the community college student representative for the State of Colorado and honored as a New Century Scholar along with 49 other students.

Receiving the New Century Scholar award on 23 April 2006 in Long Beach, California

Prior to attending the American Association of Community Colleges Convention, Maghakyan was recognized as a Guistwhite Scholar at the 88th Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Convention in Seattle, Washington. He was selected to the 20-member group out of 600 applicants.

Receiving the All-USA Academic First Team award on 24 April 2006 in Long Beach, California. From left to right, Bert Glandon, Arapahoe Community College President; Simon Maghakyan, All-USA Academic Team member; Bob Dull, former Executive Editor of USA Today. The latter opened his introductory speech about me by mentioning the importance of April 24, the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day, to me.

Maghakyan served as president of ACC’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapter during 2004-2005, and is currently leading ACC’s Student Leadership Council. One of his academic successes was the completion, in summer 2005, of the graduate-level “Genocide and Human Rights Studies” course organized by the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies in Toronto. His participation in the program was made possible by a full scholarship from Colorado-based philanthropists Kaloust and Arous Christianian.

Maghakyan will be graduating from Arapahoe Community College on May 13 and plans to continue his political science studies at a four-year university. USA Today published Maghakyan’s photograph and biography in the April 24 issue.