Collin College announces the recognition of four exceptional students as 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars. Simrah Sajjad of Plano and Alan Tovar of McKinney were honored as Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholars, each receiving a $1,500 scholarship; Jersey Johnson from McKinney and Nathan Gray from Dallas were named Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholars, each receiving a $1,250 scholarship.
Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, this program recognizes academic excellence, leadership and community engagement and annually awards nearly $200,000 in scholarships.
College administrators nominate candidates for the academic team based on criteria including academic excellence and leadership. The Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in local, statewide and international ceremonies during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst. “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 global community leaders,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
Lynn Tincher-Ladner, PhD, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, expressed gratitude to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for their investment in student success. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals,” read the official statement.
Sajjad, who intends to transfer to The University of Texas at Dallas to pursue a degree in cognitive science, expressed her gratitude for the recognition, saying, “Receiving this recognition is incredibly meaningful to me. It validates all the hard work and dedication I've put into my academic pursuits and motivates me to continue striving for excellence.”
Tovar, focusing on core engineering and math classes at Collin College, aims to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He said, “Receiving this recognition means a lot because it is a testament to the hard work I put into community college. Collin College was the perfect way to continue my studies after high school.”
Johnson, a computer science student, emphasized the award's significance, particularly as a first-generation college student. She says, “Often, I doubted if I’m on the right track. However, through hard work and determination, I set aside that doubt and reached heights I never knew possible. This scholarship is proof that my dedication and passion in my higher education is recognized.”
Gray, who plans to attend Texas A&M University in the fall, described the recognition as the culmination of rigorous efforts over the past year. “Recognition through scholarships and awards is an added honor. But after a lot of hustle behind the scenes, it feels great to walk the stage and soak in the accomplishments for a short moment.”
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