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NJC student leaders recognized at CCCS awards banquet

Students honored for academic excellence, engagement on campus

By Callie Jones | cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com | Sterling Journal-Advocate
PUBLISHED: April 11, 2025 at 11:39 AM MDT

April 17, 2025
NJC student leaders recognized at CCCS awards banquet. From left to right, Breccen Morelli, Elyce Sisseck, Sarah Liepold, Gracie Clark, and Ethan Glenn.

Five Northeastern Junior College students were recently honored for their academic accomplishments and leadership. Breccen Morelli and Gracie Clark, recipients of the Colorado Community College System’s Student Excellence Rising Star Award; Clark and Sarah Liepold, Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team; Ethan Glenn, recipient of the Inclusive Excellence Champion Award; and Elyce Sisseck, recipient of the  Rollie Heath Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Award, were recognized at the Student Excellence Awards Banquet, held at the Social Capitol in Arvada, on April 9.

Rising Star

The Rising Star Award recognizes students who have increased the level and quality of student engagement on campus.

Breccen Morelli grew up in Mancos and is currently serving as the Associated Student Government president at NJC. He is pursuing a degree in fire science technology, with a goal of joining a career fire department after graduation.

Passionate about leadership and student engagement, Breccen is dedicated to fostering a strong campus community. He enjoys attending NJC sports events and encouraging student involvement.

Outside of his academic leadership roles, he stays active through running and working out. His faith is an essential part of his life and he finds fulfillment in reading the Bible and attending church.

While at NJC, Morelli has done a number of things on campus to encourage student voting and as a result, NJC had a great year and he was recognized by the ALL IN organization as a student leader.

The other NJC Rising Star award was awarded to Gracie Clark. 

Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team

The Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team award recognizes the academic accomplishments of high-achieving student members of PTK National Honor Society from across the state.

Gracie Clark is from Karval, where she graduated alongside three other students. She is pursuing a double major in soil and crop science and agriculture education. Passionate about learning and teaching, she strives to deepen her knowledge and share it with others and most weekends she’s working on her father’s ranch, where they raise cattle and grow sorghum.

She is actively involved in school organizations, serving as an officer in Farm Bureau, Math and Science Club, and PTK. Clark also participates in Aggies and values community service through these clubs. She enjoys building connections with other students across campus.

Her future plans include transferring to the University of Wyoming and eventually becoming a soil science professor at a small college like NJC.

Sarah Liepold is a sophomore at NJC, double majoring in ag business and animal science. She grew up in Arvada and discovered her love of agriculture and beef cattle with her very first 4-H project, a beef steer she won in an essay contest. Liepold is very active on campus with leadership roles in Farm Bureau, Aggies, Math and Science Club and PTK and is a continuous member of the president’s list honor roll.

After graduation, she will be transferring to the University of Wyoming to pursue her bachelor’s degree in agriculture business with a livestock operations concentration and a minor in animal veterinary science. She plans to pursue a career working directly with feed cattle producers in the United States in production marketing.

Inclusive Excellence Champion

The Inclusive Excellence Champion award recognizes students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on their campus.

Ethan Glenn is from Otis and is pursuing his education at NJC with a goal of becoming a science teacher. Passionate about learning and education, he is dedicated to helping others develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. His academic journey is driven by a commitment to fostering curiosity and critical thinking in students, aiming to inspire a lifelong appreciation for science and discovery.

Beyond his studies, Glenn enjoys long-distance running, reading, writing and engaging in thoughtful reflection. He also has a strong interest in physical studies, which influences his values and his approach to life. His personal and professional aspirations are centered around making a meaningful impact in his community, both as an educator and as a mentor to future generations.

Rollie Heath Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Award

The Rollie Heath Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Award recognizes successful college students who also earned concurrent enrollment credits during their high school years and who demonstrate leadership in their community.

Elyce Sisseck is an 18-year-old freshman at NJC, where she is actively pursuing a career in biology. Originally from Holyoke, she takes great pride in being a member of NJC’s softball team, demonstrating her dedication both on and off the field and in the classroom.

Balancing the demands of collegiate athletics and academics, Sissesck is committed to her studies with the ultimate goal of attending dental school. She aspires to earn a doctorate in dental surgery and build a career in dentistry where she can make a meaningful impact in the field of oral health.

Passionate about both science and sports, Sisseck is driven by a strong work ethic and by a determination to succeed in all aspects of the college experience.

To support NJC students, go to njc.edu/foundation or call 970-521-6777. Every tax-deductible donation has an impact, big or small.

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