Isabela Lopes

Two students at Northern Virginia Community College have been selected as 2014 Coca-Cola Leader of Promise Scholars. Isabela Lopes attends NOVA’s Manassas Campus and Horacio Artiga goes to NOVA’s Alexandria Campus. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

“Winning the Coca-Cola Leader of Promise Scholarship is an unexpected honor,” Lopes said. “I dedicate myself to being a successful student and it means the world to be recognized for that.”

“Isabela is a shining representative of our student body and I am thrilled to congratulate her for achieving this award,” said Manassas Provost Roger Ramsammy. “She has already made her mark on the Manassas Campus and I feel sure she will continue to contribute to NOVA and our community.”

The 19-year-old Gainesville resident will graduate in May 2015 with an associate degree in social sciences. Her dream is to earn a master’s degree in education so she can teach high school psychology. She also plans to teach or coach dance.

At the Manassas Campus, Lopes is involved with several activities. As vice president of scholarship for the Alpha Iota Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, she is responsible for coordinating the Honors in Action Project. In addition, she serves as vice president of the Psychology Club and performs with the NOVA Dance Company.

Sharing the credit for her good fortune with those who helped her, Lopes said, “I am thankful for my motivating family and inspiring professors who have guided me through the transition from high school to college.”

Chosen from more than 900 applications worldwide, 207 Phi Theta Kappa members were awarded a total of $207,000 in scholarships. Independent judges evaluated the applications based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential.

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program provides new Phi Theta Kappa members with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are also encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs.

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 U.S. military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation and provides Leaders of Promise Global Scholarships, earmarked for international students.

“These funds not only aid college completion, but provide students with the opportunity to engage in Society programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in Phi Theta Kappa. So the funds are not only an investment in our students, they are an investment in the future of our organization and the colleges and communities we serve,” said Dr. Rod Risley, executive director and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Congratulations to our 2014 recipients. Without a doubt the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise program will make a tremendous impact on the lives of these hard-working, high-achieving students, making it possible for them to complete their associate degrees.”

“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 more deserving students to achieve their educational goals. Phi Theta Kappa members are proven scholars, engaged students who want to use their abilities to make a difference. In designating $200,000 for Leaders of Promise, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is supporting tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, 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, plus Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. Nearly 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 132,000 students inducted annually.

By: NOVA College

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