Martha Hall, a college transfer graduate of Southwestern Community College and a student at NC State University, was one of 20 students selected to USA Today's All-USA Community College Academic Team. At 17, she was the youngest of the winners. Each received a $2,500 stipend, obelisk, and medallion and was featured in the April 6 issue of the USA TODAY newspaper.

Here's what USA Today said about Martha's accomplishments: As member of Watershed Association of the Tuckaseigee River, helped secure grants, collected rainfall data and studied local streams; active in 4-H Club; transferred to North Carolina State University, where she is a member of rifle team and a chemistry and math tutor; designed an award-winning filter that improved water quality in fish production tanks.

The criteria for the awards are students who excel academically, show intellectual rigor, demonstrate academic leadership/civic growth and extend their community college education to better themselves, their schools and their communities.

“I really appreciate my instructors at Southwestern who helped get me to this level of achievement,” Martha said. “I was so proud to represent Southwestern and I actually feel the award is as much for the college as it is for me."