Essex County College Students Earn Spot On All-Academic Team

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Two students at Essex County College recently earned their way onto a prestigious all-academic team.

Laela Lawal and Towela Mwale are Essex County College’s 2025 representatives on the All USA-New Jersey Community College Academic Team.

Both are members of the college’s Alpha Theta Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). They will represent Essex County College in Trenton in May of 2025, where they will be recognized alongside other New Jersey community college nominees by state officials. Lawal and Mwale will also in the running for the All USA National Academic Team.

Each student has a bright future ahead of them, Essex County College administrators said.

Lawal is a biology/pre-medicine major from Newark who has a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Mwale, who lives in the Oranges, is also a biology/pre-medicine major who has earned a 3.70 average.

Both students are leaning towards careers in neuro science, administrators said.

Professor Lynn Wilson, co-advisor of the ECC PTK chapter, said that Lawal and Mwale are great examples of student leadership.

“They are active, not only in activities and events of Alpha Theta Theta, but other groups and organizations on campus,” Wilson said. “I see nothing but great things ahead for them.”

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