Phi Theta Kappa Advisor, Hayden Kelley, is proud to announce three PTK members, Donna Kent, Shannon Ragusa, and Sarah Wellborn, were selected for the All-Georgia Academic Team. The All-Georgia Academic Team is part of the All-USA Academic Team, which recognizes high-achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom and society.
Each member will be recognized at the All-Georgia Academic Team Banquet, held at the Coca-Cola Company Headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, April 18th. They will receive a medallion and also be recognized for the additional scholarships they have earned.
Donna Kent was nominated and selected for the All-Georgia Academic Team and was also selected as a 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar, earning her a scholarship of $1,250. She will be recognized along with other All-Georgia Academic Team members at an awards luncheon in April, where she will receive a special medallion.
Donna Kent is a junior nursing student at Athens Technical College and serves as Chapter President of Phi Theta Kappa. She is committed to changing the narrative within her community. Her journey reflects a steadfast dedication to her family and her goal of fostering a more inclusive environment in healthcare and education.
Shannon Ragusa was nominated and selected for the All-Georgia Academic Team. She scored as the top student in Georgia for the 2025 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship, earning her a scholarship of $2,250. The New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship recognizes high-achieving students in each state, and students are selected from the highest All-USA Academic Team application scores. Shannon was also selected for the 2025 All-USA Academic Team, a goal only 20 students nationwide achieved out of nearly 2,100 nominations. For this prestigious award, she earned a $5,000 scholarship. She will be recognized along with other All-Georgia Academic Team members at an awards luncheon in April, where she will receive a special medallion.
Shannon’s life has been deeply shaped by her oldest son, Austin, who bravely faced various medical diagnoses until he passed at age 11. After dedicating 16 years to raising her children, she is now returning to Athens Technical College to pursue her second associate’s degree in Criminal Justice Technology. As a published author, she uses her voice and experience to help others and create meaningful change. She is in the process of establishing a non-profit organization in Austin’s memory, aimed at supporting parents of medically fragile children. Balancing family, education, and her commitment to advocacy, she embodies resilience and a deep commitment to community service. Shannon is the Vice President of Finance in her Phi Theta Kappa chapter.
Sarah Wellborn is an Athens Technical College student at the Elbert campus who studies Practical Nursing.
Sarah Wellborn was nominated and selected for the All-Georgia Academic Team. She will be recognized alongside other team members across the state at the upcoming awards luncheon in April, where she will receive a special medallion.
Sarah is passionate about healthcare and has over a decade of experience. She is currently enrolled in the LPN program of Athens Technical College and has maintained a 4.0 GPA while balancing full-time work and supporting her 16-year-old daughter as an active soccer mom. Throughout her career, she has gained diverse experience in healthcare in various roles, including working in a cardiac step-down unit at Piedmont Hospital, an audiology assistant at an ENT office, a medical-surgical unit, and her most recently with pediatric and adult patients at MedLink. The next goal is to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Donna Kent Shannon Ragusa Sarah Wellborn