Rio Student Honored as Member of the 2025 All-Ohio Academic Team
Ohio’s community colleges are capping off their celebration of Community College Month by recognizing a new class of academic all-stars.
Fifty-two students have been picked for the 2025 All-Ohio Academic Team, an honor that recognizes them for their excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. College faculty, staff, and other campus leaders nominated these top-performing students for this honor.
Rio student Cooper Jeffers-Flinner has been named among the 2025 All-Ohio Academic Team.
“Ohio’s economy and the careers it supports are transforming at a thrilling pace, and our community colleges play an essential role in preparing the workforce that this exciting technology-focused age requires,” said Avi Zaffini, President and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC). “Members of the 2025 All-Ohio Academic Team, coming from all parts of the state, are leading this transformation. Their success as students and the promise they show for their chosen careers is testimony to the contributions that Ohio’s community colleges are making as they help develop the well-educated, motivated workforce that will drive our state’s economy for many years ahead.”
The All-Ohio Academic Team program is a collaboration of the OACC, the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society and Honda, the event sponsor.
“I am honored to congratulate these All-Ohio Academic Team members,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey. “Through their academic achievement and breadth of leadership, each will contribute to the strength and vitality of our state."
First-team honorees will receive $1,000 scholarships, second-team members will receive $500 scholarships, and third-team members will receive $250 scholarships. The scholarships are meant to help the honorees transfer to universities to complete their bachelor’s degree requirements.
The team also includes students planning to move directly into the workforce. They too will receive recognition and awards.
In addition to the state awards, four students were selected for national community college honors.
About the Ohio Association of Community Colleges:
The Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) represents the presidents and trustees of Ohio’s 22 public two-year institutions, advancing community colleges through policy advocacy, professional development, and strategic leadership. Serving nearly 250,000 Ohioans annually, community colleges connect students to in-demand careers and are the top workforce partner for Ohio employers with more than 1,000 employer partnerships. The OACC champions a classroom-to-career pipeline, advocating for student opportunity and success, fostering collaboration, and promoting the transformative impact of community colleges on students, businesses, and communities across Ohio.