Middle College Student Jacqueline Kerns to Perform at PTK Convention

Kerns will perform a song from the musical “South Pacific”

Middle College student Jacqueline Kerns will take center stage at this year’s Phi Theta Kappa Convention in San Jose.

Kerns, a San Carlos resident, will open the program with “A Cockeyed Optimist”, a song from the musical “South Pacific”.

“It’s very exciting,” Kerns said. “The space is amazing. They hold rock concerts there.” Kerns will sing at the convention on April 6.

This year’s convention is being held April 4-6 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Phi Theta Kappa’s 95^th annual convention features more than 100 educational forums, detailed information on college completion resources, opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with students, advisors and alumni chapters from around the world, and award presentations.

Cañada’s PTK chapter is one of the strongest in the country. Paul Roscelli, a faculty advisor for the club, has been named a PTK Faculty Scholar seven times. Former Cañada President Thomas Mohr received the Shirley B. Golden Award of Distinction in 2009 which is bestowed on college presidents that show exceptional support for their chapters. Vice President of Instruction Linda Hayes was the recipient of the Distinguished College Administrator Award in 2012 and former VPI Sarah Perkins also received the award. The Cañada PTK chapter has been named a Five Star Chapter for 13 consecutive years.

Kerns will be unable to attend the entire PTK Convention because she’ll be at a National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. “It’s also being held in San Jose,” Kerns said. “I’m focusing on seven pieces for that competition.”

Kerns attended a private high school and later transferred to a public high school before enrolling at Cañada last spring as a concurrent enrollment student. “I really enjoy Middle College,” she said. Kerns said she has another year remaining at Middle College before she attends college. Her mother is a concert pianist and Kerns said her educational dream is to attend the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia but her goal is to attend a college with strong academics and music.