Tyler Junior College sophomore students Anahi Hernandez and Michelle Reyes have been named 2020 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholars and will each receive a $1,500 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.
Anahi Hernandez is a general studies/healthcare administration major from Longview. She is a member of the TJC Presidential Honors program and Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and works as a student assistant in the TJC School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
After graduating from TJC, she plans to transfer to The University of Texas at Dallas and major in healthcare administration.
Michelle Reyes is a business administration major from Cartagena, Colombia. She is a member of the TJC Presidential Honors program, Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Student Senate, Hispanic Student Organization, the Baptist Student Ministry and the Green Committee. She also works as an intern in the honors program.
After graduating from TJC, she plans to transfer to The University of Texas at Tyler and major in finance and minor in international studies.
“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 and make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”
Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership and engagement in college and community service.
TJC President Dr. Juan E. Mejia said, “We congratulate both Anahi and Michelle for being celebrated through this special recognition, and we celebrate the thousands of students who we serve on a daily basis. It is an honor to work with stellar leaders at the College who have student and community success at the heart of all we do.”
Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in the near future.
“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career 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 in the nation’s colleges.