NCC’s 2025 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team

Five students from Northampton Community College (NCC) made this year’s All-Pennsylvania (All-PA) Academic Team, which consists of 55 students representing 14 community colleges from across Pennsylvania. The honor recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom. The All-Pennsylvania Academic Team is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), which is the international honor society for two-year colleges, along with the Coca Cola Corporation, the State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC).  

2025 All-PA Academic Team 

Transfer Scholars 

Karolina Zakova, Bethlehem 

Myo Ei Thanzin, Bethlehem  

Amanda Alfaro, Pocono 

Alexis Stapleton, Pocono 

Workforce Scholar 

Debra Leedy, Bethlehem 

Students are selected for the All-PA Academic Team based on a thorough nomination and application process. The 2025 scholars are made up of 43 Transfer Pathway students and 12 Workforce Pathway students. 

Transfer Pathway honorees plan to transfer to a four-year college after graduation. They must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to provide Transfer Pathway students with tuition waivers at any PASSHE school. One of the Transfer Pathway Scholars, Amanda Alfaro, is also a 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship. 

Workforce Pathway honorees plan to enter the workforce after completing a certificate or associate degree at a community college. Workforce Pathway students must have a minimum of 12 college-level credit hours at a community college and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. 

resident of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D., said, "These students have shown exceptional leadership both in the classroom and through their extracurricular involvement. Being selected for this team is a testament to all they’ve accomplished at NCC and the meaningful impact they’ve had on the community. I can’t wait to see what they’ll achieve next!" 

The students were recognized with other award recipients state-wide in Harrisburg on April 8.  Congratulations to this year’s All-PA Academic Team! See bios of these students below. 

Leedy is a dental hygiene student at NCC with a passion for oral health and patient care. Driven by a fascination with the dental environment, she aspires to help others gain confidence in their smiles and overcome dental anxieties. Leedy is a member of PTK, National Technical Honor Society, and the honors program at NCC. Having graduated high school in the top ten percent in her county, she continues to prioritize academic excellence as she works toward becoming a licensed dental hygienist upon graduation. 

Stapleton is a psychology major at the college, and she’s focused on a career in counseling. Inspired by a deep interest in human behavior and personal experiences growing up as a child of divorced parents, Stapleton is passionate about supporting children and adolescents through life’s challenges. Actively involved in PTK, she has developed strong leadership skills and a commitment to community. She's been accepted to Moravian University with a half-tuition scholarship. Her long-term goal is to advocate for youth mental health and expand access to mental health resources for underserved communities. 

Zakova is an international student from the Czech Republic studying history at NCC. Originally from the outskirts of Prague, her passion for history and the humanities began in high school and has grown into a strong aspiration to become a teacher or professor. Her dedication to education is reflected in her volunteer work with Beyond the Literacy, where she supports ESL classes for immigrants, an experience that has deepened her love for teaching. At NCC, Zakova has been an active student leader, serving as vice president of the Student Senate and public relations officer for PTK. Her academic excellence and involvement earned her a $25,000 PTK scholarship to Moravian University, where she will pursue her bachelor’s degree in history. She's committed to sharing knowledge and inspiring future generations through education. 

Thanzin, who goes by Julia, is an international student from Myanmar currently pursuing a degree in biological science at NCC. Ever since she was young, she’s been interested in biology and the science of life. She’s deeply committed to giving back. She has volunteered to educate orphaned children, helped organize fundraising events, and participated in various initiatives to support her community. She notes that being an active member of the International Student Organization (ISO Club) has enriched her college experience and taught her to value cultural diversity and global perspectives. Her ultimate goal is to become a doctor, with a focus on serving children in underserved communities—especially in her home country.  

Alfaro is a proud mother of two daughters and a non-traditional student. She is styudying psychology and will transfer to either Columbia University or Lafayette College. Her passion lies in creating lasting systemic change through public policy. “By researching topics within social psychology—such as social identity, prosocial and antisocial behavior, and attitude change—I aim to uncover the deeper reasons behind how individuals and societies function,” she says. She hopes to design real-world solutions that uplift vulnerable populations and build a more equitable, informed, and compassionate world. She's also an avid reader and writer, currently working on her own children’s book. Her poetry and short stories have been featured in The Laconic, NCC’s literary and arts magazine. She serves as the president of PTK’s Beta Beta Chi chapter at the Pocono campus.