Summary
Three Ozarks Technical Community College students were named 2023 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars and will each receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Three Ozarks Technical Community College students were named 2023 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars and will each receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Only 213 students received awards out of the nearly 1,100 applicants. Phi Theta Kappa is the largest international honor society for students at associate degree-granting colleges.
The OTC honorees are:
- Ellen Blakey: The 2022 Glendale High School graduate is studying aviation technology. Ellen will graduate in the fall of 2024 and transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
- Robert-Thomas Gumersell: The 2022 Home School graduate is pursuing a general studies degree. Robert-Thomas will graduate in the spring of 2024 and then transfer to a four-year university.
- Audrey Harmon: The 2021 HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) graduate is pursuing a computer information science degree. Audrey will graduate in the fall of 2024. After graduation, Audrey plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
A total of $213,000 will be awarded this year through the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation provides $200,000 in funding for the scholarships, with $25,000 set aside for members who are veterans or active members of the United States military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, which provides multiple Global Leaders of Promise Scholarships earmarked for international students.
“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.”
The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion but also give students the opportunity to engage in Society programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities.
“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.”
