AC student receives prestigious Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award

Deneice Marshall, left, here with AC Business Division Director Jim Kennedy , recently graduated Angelina College with an AAS degree in management development, has received the Wall Street Journal's Student Achievement Award for outstanding academic performance. (AC Press Photo) As a wife, mother of three and grandmother of four, Deneice Marshall figured she'd long passed any need to bother with enrolling in college. After all, she'd already established herself both in life and in her career.

But when her employer approached her and explained some of the numerous opportunities that could unfold by furthering her education, Marshall couldn't resist. She began attending business classes at Angelina College two years ago; this past year, she completed her associate of applied sciences in management development. This, after already having earned certification in HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning).

Marshall didn't just complete those programs. She excelled in them. And as a result of her efforts, Marshall recently received the prestigious Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award. According to the certificate, Marshall was chosen for her "outstanding academic performance" while attending AC.

The recent graduate said all the accolades came down to a single factor: Working hard.

"There's really no other way to explain this," Marshall said. "Just hard work, coming to class and doing what was expected of me.

"I've learned that a lot of older, returning students often perform at a higher level in the classroom just because we've been out in the workforce long enough to see the importance of education and training."

Jim Kennedy, Director of the Business Division at Angelina College said there were other factors that made Marshall a good choice for the award.

"I submitted Deneice specifically for her academic achievements, classroom participation and involvement in business and community," Kennedy said. "She embodies every quality an instructor would want to see, from goal-setting to her work ethic.

"We're very proud of Deneice and what she's accomplished here at AC."

Marshall said she's already seeing the benefits to furthering her education.

"Besides adding credibility to my profession, my degree is starting to create a lot of other opportunities for me, opportunities I never dreamed would be available. I've been able to qualify for other testing and certifications that will lead to bigger and better things."