Lone Star College-Tomball students Alex Dodd and Tiffany Avalos-Lopez have been named 2016 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholars. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars, and providing nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each Gold Scholar receives a $1,500 scholarship and a special medallion.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the national honor society for two-year colleges, administers the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Program and recognizes Coca-Cola Community College scholars during All-State Community College Academic Team Recognition ceremonies held in 38 states. Student scholars also receive recognition locally during ceremonies held on campus and internationally for those who are able to attend Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention, to be held this year in Washington, DC.
Both Dodd and Avalos-Lopez are members of PTK. Additionally, they are each Chancellor’s Fellows and active members of the Honors College. The scholars each have clear plans for their educational goals. Dodd, a Biology major, plans to transfer to Sam Houston University in the fall. Dodd said, “I owe everything to the people around me who supported me, enlightened me, and tested me. This is the beginning of tremendous opportunities.”
Avalos-Lopez is a Molecular Biology major with a specialty in Biochemistry. She plans to transfer to Houston Baptist University. “I am especially grateful to my mentor, Dr. Rebecca Tate,” she said. “Dr. Tate selflessly gave up her time to help me. The scholarship will benefit me by opening the doors to more.”
Community college presidents or their designated nominators may submit no more than two nominations per campus for this award. An independent panel of judges considers outstanding academic rigor, grade point average, academic and leadership awards, and engagement in college and community service in the selection process.
“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said J. Mark Davis, 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.”
Phi Theta Kappa, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, U.S. territorial possessions and eight sovereign nations. More than 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 134,000 students inducted annually.
Lone Star College-Tomball is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway, at the intersection of SH 249 and Zion Road. For more information about the college, call 281.351.3300 or visit LoneStar.edu/Tomball.