The League for Innovation in the Community College and Distinguished Partner Microsoft Corporation are pleased to announce the selection of Rodney Hargis, Mercer County Community College (Trenton, NJ); Irvin De La Torre, El Paso Community College (El Paso, TX); and Richard Adam Phillips, Snead State Community College (Boaz, AL), as the 2008 Terry O’Banion Student Technology Champions. Microsoft sponsors the Terry O’Banion Student Technology Champions awards annually in honor of Terry O’Banion, Senior League Fellow and President Emeritus of the League.

The students selected for this year’s awards stood out as hard-working, talented, and dedicated individuals. After receiving an abundance of compelling letters of recommendation, Microsoft selected a Student Technology winner, a Student Developer winner, and one Special Achievement winner. Each student had something extra special that stood out to the committee. These three winners have clearly demonstrated individual excellence through their commitment and passion for IT. The committee was impressed by Rodney Hargis’s determination and passion for IT, especially because he had to overcome significant challenges to get where he is today. Irvin De La Torre distinguished himself as a consistent and dedicated student with a seemingly endless supply of creative and innovative input. Looking through the applicants that were sent, the committee could not help but recognize another outstanding student. Microsoft honors Richard Adam Phillips with a Special Achievement Award for the exceptional success he has achieved in his studies thus far, with hopes that this award will help him realize his dreams of furthering his education. Deborah Sanders of Microsoft Corporation said it best when she stated, “These students represent the future of our industry and I am encouraged and energized by the passion, dedication and commitment that they have shown.”

Student Technology Champion Rodney Hargis, Student Developer Champion Irvin De La Torre and the Special Achievement award winner, Richard Adam Phillips, each received $5,000, plus a variety of software products from Microsoft.

For information on the Terry O’Banion Student Technology Awards, contact Wendy Neil, neil@league.org or (480) 705-8200, ext. 234.