THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
DANVILLE – DACC Student Leonidas (Leo) Hamza has been awarded $1500 for the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship. According to the PTK site, the purpose of this scholarship is to assist with urgent financial burdens, such as medical issues, natural disasters, or major income loss, ensuring students can finish their degree. The application process requires an essay detailing the financial hardship. The scholarship is named after Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf and focuses on assisting student who are near completion but facing significant, unexpected crises.
While not a crises, Hamza wrote about the unexpected birth of his son and how that made completing his degree more challenging. Hamza is an officer in DACC’s Pi Omega chapter of PTK and a candidate for Student Trustee for the coming academic year.
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society is the official honor society for two-year colleges, recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) since 1929. Founded in 1918, PTK celebrates academic achievement and fosters personal growth, leadership, and service among community and technical college students. With nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 nations and over 4.3 million students inducted, PTK provides a transformative experience, connecting its 230,000 active members to opportunities for scholarships, leadership development, and success beyond the classroom. By offering access to exclusive resources and a supportive community, PTK empowers students to excel academically and reach their full potential.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties, since 1946. The College offers Associate degrees and certificates in both university transfer and applied career and technical programs. DACC’s historic, 76-acre main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
