Hester named Coca-Cola Silver Scholar
Donna Thomas/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON, MS - Kate Hester of Pontotoc, a sophomore at Itawamba Community College, has been named a 2016 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Silver Scholar. 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 Silver Scholar receives a $1,250 scholarship and a special medallion.

In addition, she has been selected to the All-Mississippi Academic Team First Team for which she received a $1,000 scholarship and was named as the recipient of Phi Theta Kappa's Order of the Golden Key, which was presented at the organization's regional conference, Feb. 26-27, at Mississippi State University. Nominations for the All-Mississippi Team are based on academic performance and service to the college and community.

Hester is a member of the ICC women's soccer team, All-American Marching Band and Wind Band as well as Phi Theta Kappa president and Baptist Student Union Bible Study coordinator. She also serves as youth intern at the First Baptist Church of Amory. Her parents are Ken and Temple Hester.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society 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. Hester will also be recognized during "An Evening of Celebration: Honoring Academic Excellence Across the Curriculum," Apr. 19, at the Fulton Campus and at PTK's annual international convention, Apr. 7-9, in National Harbor, Md.

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.

"We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for their vote of confidence in community college students by investing in their futures," said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. "Their support is especially welcome during this challenging economic climate, as more and more community college students need additional resources to help them complete their 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 deserving students to achieve their educational goals."

PTK, headquartered in Jackson, 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.

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