National honor society awards top recognition to JSCC President

JACKSON, TENN. – Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the national honor society for community college students, presented its Paragon Award to Jackson State Community College (JSCC) President Dr. Carol Rothstein during its recent annual convention.

Nominated by her students, Dr. Rothstein is among 25 others across the nation who were honored with the Paragon Award. This award recognizes college presidents who have served in their roles for less than three years and shown support of student success initiatives leading to stronger pathways to completion, transfer, and employment. Awardees also exemplify a passion for helping lead and support students and also work to develop student leaders on their respective campuses.

“These new college presidents have demonstrated, right from the start, that student success is at the heart of their leadership,” said Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “This award is especially meaningful because it comes directly from the students, reflecting their appreciation for leaders who prioritize their growth and achievement.”

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by our students to be named as a Paragon Award recipient,” said Dr. Rothstein. “Our students and their success are at the forefront of every strategy, initiative, and conversation here at Jackson State, but it’s much more than that. I have the privilege of getting to see these student chase after their passions from day one of their college journey. Getting to shake their hand and say ‘congratulations’ at graduation is a feeling like no other, and then to see them go on to achieve their academic and career goals is just the icing on top.”

Dr. Rothstein was among two other community college leaders that are a part of the College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, to be nationally recognized by PTK.

“These awards are a national recognition of what we in Tennessee already know: our community and technical colleges – and their presidents, faculty and staff – are among the very best,” said TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings. “We’re proud that these awards are another recognition of their success in serving their students, their communities and their state every day.”

See the full list of 2025 Paragon Award recipients.

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.

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