Lincoln Land Community College students Nicole Erwin-Gaynor of Taylorville, Jennifer Haggerty of Chandlerville and Isis Thompson of Springfield are among 207 Phi Theta Kappa members nationwide to be named 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars and will each receive $1,000 scholarships.
“We are proud to have three recipients of this prestigious award in one year,” said Dr. Claire Gordon, LLCC professor of communication and Phi Theta Kappa coordinator. “Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society that not only recognizes, but also encourages top academic achievement as well as development of leadership skills.”
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. This year’s recipients were selected by a panel of independent judges from nearly 700 applicants. Scholars were chosen based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential.
“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”
“Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier 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 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with approximately 240,000 active members at colleges across the U.S. Learn more at ptk.org.
