Will Keller, a recent graduate of Northeast Alabama Community College, is one of 20 college students named to the prestigious All-USA Academic Team, among many other honors. More than 2,400 students were nominated for this award, and Keller received a $5,000 scholarship as a result.

Keller was recognized during the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) convention in April. In addition to the scholarship funds, recipients will be presented with commemorative medallions, and their college presidents will receive commemorative obelisks.

“Will has been an extremely successful student at Northeast as his awards reflect,” stated NACC President Dr. David Campbell.  “He is admired and respected for his leadership skills by faculty, staff, and fellow students as well.  We are proud to have had him at the college and he has certainly made an impact."

Keller lives in Grant, Alabama, and plans to attend medical school at the University of Alabama to earn his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science. He plans to attend medical school and specialize in pediatrics. He completed the Huntsville Rural Pre-Medical Internship through the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the summer of 2022. Keller served as NACC SGA President, Rural Health Club President, and Phi Theta Kappa Chapter President. Keller also served as Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta and Sigma Kappa Delta.

Ms. Joan Reeves is the English and Fine Arts Division Chair at NACC. She also serves as the Director of Student Activities where she had the pleasure of working closely with Keller during his tenure at Northeast. “In forty-nine years as an educator, I have not worked with a more dedicated, committed student than Will. Not only does he excel in the classroom as a curious, critical thinker, but he also excels as a leader who inspires others to become engaged in activities which he promotes. Northeast is truly enriched by students like Will,” said Reeves.

All-USA team members were selected for their outstanding intellectual achievement, leadership, community, and campus engagement. The All-USA Academic Team is sponsored by Cengage, with additional support provided by Phi Theta Kappa and AACC. Cengage’s industry-leading subscription for textbooks and materials, Cengage Unlimited, has helped over 4.8M students save over $580M on the cost of course materials since August 2018.

Additionally, Keller was named to the All-Alabama academic team and was named a New Century Transfer Scholar, making him the top transfer student in Alabama. Keller was also named the 2023 Northeast Alabama Community College President’s Cup winner.

Keller’s PTK sponsors are extremely proud of his accomplishments and spoke to his contributions to the group. “As our Phi Theta Kappa chapter president, Will led our chapter to create a successful Honors in Action project that helped NACC students engage in intramural sports. Will’s determination and enthusiasm during the year inspired our chapter officer team,” said Olivia Dodd, NACC Director of Institutional Planning and Assessment and PTK sponsor.

“We are deeply inspired by the achievements of this year’s All-USA Academic Team. With so much focus and pressure on which post-secondary institution a student attends, these students show that the real keys to success are hard work and determination,” said Edwin Robles, Senior Vice President and General Manager, US Higher Education and Canada, Cengage. “Community colleges play an important role in providing affordable education that helps students transition successfully to the workforce or a 4-year institution. Despite facing significant enrollment headwinds since the pandemic, community colleges have been the most innovative in taking steps to make learning more flexible, affordable and accessible. We are proud to support these institutions and their students in their continued success.”

The All-USA program is widely recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students attending associate degree-granting institutions. Each college may nominate two students for showing intellectual rigor and demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, and civic growth. The program also recognizes students who extend their community college education to better themselves, their schools, and their surrounding communities.

Learn more about the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship Program:

Cengage, the U.S. Higher Education business of global education technology company Cengage Group, serves millions of instructors, learners, and institutions. We deliver affordable, high-quality digital products and personalized support to power learning individually and at scale. Our customer-centered approach enables innovation, including Cengage Unlimited, the first and only all-access digital subscription for textbooks and course materials. Our textbooks, homework tools, and flagship online learning platforms, MindTap and WebAssign, help educators and students achieve their goals. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.