Mt. SAC Students Named to State Academic Team

By Mount San Antonio College

Mt. San Antonio College students Candice Handjojo and Andrew Pastor are two of the 92 community college students throughout the state recently selected for the 2015 All-California Academic teams, chosen by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international community college honor society. 

These students represent some of the best of the 2.8 million students enrolled in California’s community college system. 

Handjojo and Pastor, both students in Mt. SAC’s Honors Program, received medallions during the Community College League of California’s awards ceremony held on April 7 at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. Selection for the academic teams is based on grades, leadership, and community service. 

Handjojo, 20, is a sociology major and carries a 3.94 GPA. She was selected for the All-California Academic Third Team. A West Covina resident, she volunteers as tutor for Schools on Wheels tutoring that provides tutoring services for homeless children and also tutors second-grade children in English, science, and math through Top Kids in Walnut. In addition, she volunteers as a score keeper for National Junior Basketball for area youth.

She sang as a member of Mt. SAC’s concert choir and sings with her church choir in West Covina. She plans to transfer to UC Berkeley or UC Irvine as a sociology major, and eventually become an educational counselor. 

Pastor, 20, is a public health major and carries a 4.0 GPA. He was selected for the All-California Academic Third Team. A San Dimas resident, he served as president of the Honors Ambassadors for PTK on campus.

He is a member of the Caduceus Club and the Native American Intertribal Student Association (NAISA) at Mt. SAC, and is a tutor at the college’s Learning Assistance Center. Off campus, he is a percussion instructor at San Dimas High School and is serving an internship with UC Irvine’s Medical Center.

He plans to transfer to UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, or UC Irvine as a public health/microbiology major. He eventually plans to become a physician and work as a global health coordinator. 

There are 30 first-team, 31 second-team, and 31 third-team winners.