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TJC students earn national honors, more than $19,000 in scholarships

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TYLER, Texas – Tyler Junior College students are earning national recognition for academic achievement, leadership and service, receiving more than $19,000 in competitive scholarships and honors this spring through Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society programs.

“This year we have an unprecedented number of scholars, and it has truly been a momentous year,” said Gigi Delk, adviser for the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. “We are the only college in the region with multiple national scholarship recipients.”

Students from TJC’s Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa earned a record eight All-Texas Academic Team honors along with multiple national scholarships after competing against 3,000 applicants nationwide.

The program recognizes high-achieving community college students that contribute to local economies and meet workforce needs. Several of the honored students are already making an impact beyond the classroom.

Maria Ruiz-Rodriguez, a business and marketing major, recently returned from Oregon after assisting with her first birth while pursuing additional certification work in midwifery and doula care.

“It was pretty incredible,” Ruiz-Rodriguez said. “Most people don’t get to experience something like that so young, and I am so blessed that TJC gave me the confidence to venture out on my own and accomplish these different things”

TJC President & CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia said the students’ accomplishments reflect the determination and personal stories behind each achievement.

“We serve nearly 20,000 students annually, but ultimately it comes down to each student’s individual story,” Dr. Mejia said.

For Erica Spears, earning national recognition marked a milestone she had never imagined possible.

A general science major and recipient of both the All-Texas Academic Team honor and the Coca-Cola World Impact Scholarship, Spears said the recognition carries special meaning after graduating with her high school senior class of just 33 students.

“This is a huge deal for me because I had never received a scholarship before,” Spears said. “At TJC, the faculty and staff reached out personally and provided resources to help me succeed. I felt cared for here.”

These honors reflect TJC’s growing impact on student success, workforce preparation and transfer achievement across East Texas, while highlighting the national competitiveness of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter.

Students recognized include:

2026 Guistwhite Scholar ($5,000)

  • Kaelyn Miller-Ramirez

2026 Coca-Cola International Academic Team Scholars ($2,500 each)

  • Ethan Chastain
  • Maria Ruiz-Rodriguez

Coca-Cola World Impact Scholars ($1,300 each)

  • Ronda Knight
  • Anastasia Oxler
  • Erica Spears

All-Texas Academic Team Scholars ($500 each)

  • Ethan Chastain
  • Dorian Jones
  • Camron Liston-Wallace
  • Ethanie Lux
  • Kaelyn Miller-Ramirez
  • Anastasia Oxler
  • Maria Ruiz-Rodriguez
  • Erica Spears

About TJC

Tyler Junior College, founded in 1926, is a comprehensive public community college in East Texas serving nearly 20,000 students annually. As TJC approaches its 100th anniversary, the college offers more than 135 programs of study, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training programs. TJC is recognized for academic excellence, strong workforce partnerships, championship athletics, and vibrant fine and performing arts programs. Learn more at TJC.edu.

Front row (left to right): Camron Liston-Wallace, Maria Ruiz-Rodriguez, Kaelyn Miller-Ramirez, Erica Spears, Ethanie Lux.

Back row (left to right): TJC President & CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia, Anastasia Oxler, Dorian Jones, Ethan Chastain, Professor Gigi Delk.

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