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Honors student receives Guistwhite Scholarship

Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011
Kimberly Allen

Daniel Leon

Honors student Daniel Leon is one of only 20 students across the country to be named a 2011 Guistwhite Scholar.

Leon, executive vice president of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, will receive a medallion and a $5,000 scholarship for baccalaureate studies. Although he’s pleased to receive the monetary portion of his award, Leon says he’s even more thrilled about what the award represents. 

"I’m just really excited to be recognized for my community service and the work I do in PTK,” he says. Leon, 21, a sophomore from Orlando, plans to pursue degrees in international affairs and arts management after earning his Associate in Arts degree in April.

For one PTK project, Leon helped organize a seminar titled “Privacy and the Law.” The three-part series brought Mathew Staver, founder of the Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law, to Seminole State as a guest speaker.

During the Florida PTK Regional Convention, held March 4-6 in St. Petersburg, Leon also received a Distinguished Officer award for his service to PTK.

Guistwhite Scholars are chosen based on their academic achievement, participation in PTK and service to their colleges and communities. More than 1,300 applicants applied for the scholarship.

The Guistwhite Scholarship Program is named in honor of Dr. Jack Guistwhite and his wife, Margaret. Dr. Guistwhite developed the first transfer scholarship designated exclusively for members of PTK. The scholarships were established in 1992.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for two-year colleges. Members of PTK must demonstrate honor and service to others and maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher.

The Art & Phyllis Grindle Honors Institute offers enrichment programs for academically talented students wishing to enhance their experience at Seminole State. For more information, please visit the Honors Institute online.