FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER—Jefferson Sate Community College students Billy Moore, of Odenville, and Destanie Kirkland, of Calera, have each been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Phi Theta Kappa honor society as 2015 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise scholars.

More than 1,100 students worldwide applied for the Leaders of Promise scholarship, and of those, 207 Phi Theta Kappa members were chosen, including Moore and Kirkland. Independent judges evaluated each candidate on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential.

Students selected for the scholarship are awarded $1,000 each to further their associate degree studies.

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.

“The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation 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 their communities,” Phi Theta Kappa Foundation CEO Dr. Nancy Rieves said. “Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers. 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.”

“The Coca-Cola Scholar Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation President J. Mark Davis said. “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, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is the largest honor society in higher education, with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in all 50 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.