Brookdale Students Recognized on Statewide and National All-Academic Teams

Students from New Jersey’s community colleges—including two outstanding Brookdale Community College students—have received statewide and national recognition for their accomplishments this year.

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) announced July 21 that 35 students from the state’s 18 community colleges were named to the 2025 New Jersey All-State Academic Team. All honorees are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for community college students, and were nominated by their college leaders for their academic performance, leadership, and contributions to both campus and community.

New Jersey’s 18 community colleges serve 240,000 students across 49 campus locations and provide affordable, high-quality academic and workforce programs that expand access to education and economic opportunities, while preparing students to participate in the state’s skilled and innovative workforce.

Students selected to the 2025 All-State Academic Team represent a broad range of academic disciplines, including biology (pre-medicine), business administration, education, engineering, healthcare, liberal arts, physics, psychology, and the sciences. The group includes students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions and those entering the workforce after graduation.

Representing Brookdale Community College on the 2025 New Jersey All-State Academic Team are:

• Sara Calvo (Ocean Township)
• Brooke Sheroke (Keyport)

Both students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a strong commitment to leadership and service throughout their time at Brookdale.

At the national level, Brookdale student Sara Calvo was also named to the 2025 All-USA Academic Team by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society—one of only 20 students selected nationwide. Calvo shares this national honor with Dhruv Sethi of Middlesex College, representing New Jersey among the country’s top community college scholars. Recipients were recognized for academic excellence, leadership, and service that extends learning beyond the classroom.

In partnership with the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Coca-Cola Foundation awarded scholarships to six New Jersey community college students who have demonstrated exceptional academic success, leadership, and community engagement. Nominees were selected by their college administrators.

Among the honorees is Brookdale’s Sara Calvo, who received the New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship, recognizing her as the top-scoring student in the state planning to transfer to a four-year institution.

Brookdale celebrates these remarkable student achievements and is proud to support the academic journeys of Sara Calvo, Brooke Sheroke, and all those who embody the values of excellence, leadership, and service.