Student Selected for USA TODAY’s ALL-USA Academic Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: April 22, 2010

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574 - 4244

lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu

Honors Student from Rockland Community College
Selected for USA TODAY’s ALL-USA Community College Academic Team

Ramapo, NY - A Rockland Community College Honors student was chosen from more than 1500 nominees from 856 community colleges by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Inc., in collaboration with USA TODAY newspaper, to be selected for the elite 20-member USA TODAY’s 2010 ALL-USA Community College Academic Team.

Mark Svensson of Orangeburg, N.Y., 20, a member of Phi Theta Kappa with a GPA of 3.98, was named to the ALL-USA Team as a result of his work to end modern-day slavery. USA TODAY presented Svensson with a $2,500 scholarship at the annual conference of the American Association of Community Colleges on April 19, 2010, in Seattle, W.A. Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, spoke at the convention and prior to her speech, asked to meet with Svensson and eight other high achieving students to hear their thoughts on the value of a community college education.

As the top scoring New York State community college student, Svensson was also named New Century Scholar by Phi Theta Kappa and was awarded $2,000.

Featured in USA TODAY on April 19 in the article, "They’re making a difference," Svensson’s accomplishments included his recent participation at the Clinton Global Initiative University 2010 Conference (April 16-18, University of Miami) and his career goal of becoming either a U.S. diplomat or ambassador.

Svensson is RCC's first ever ALL-USA selectee, and this year, was the only student chosen from New York State.

Svensson began working for more effective government action against modern day slavery in Fall ’09 upon hearing a former Sudanese slave recount his story. Svensson, now joined by Tarik Abdelqader of New City, N.Y., are leading a letter signing campaign in support of anti-slavery bill, H.R 2522, Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act. The students' goal is to present the signed letters to Congressman John Lewis of Georgia by May 2010.

At the Clinton Global Initiative University 2010 Conference, Svensson and Abdelqader’s report, "Be The Key To Freedom," which details their mission and work to end slavery, was featured on stage during the conference, having been selected from hundreds of reports as among "a select few that both demonstrated outstanding progress, told an interesting story that could be beneficial to others with similar goals, and aligned well with one of CGI U’s program topics this year."

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.