Courtney Walker of Grand Rivers Joins Over 200 Recipients Worldwide to Receive Honor Society Scholarship

2014 Nov 21

Jackson, MS (November 20, 2014) - Courtney Walker of Grand Rivers, a sophomore at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, has been selected a 2014 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society - the first time a WKCTC student has received the award.

Selected as 2014 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars, 207 Phi Theta Kappa members have been awarded a total of $207,000 in scholarships. Chosen from more than 900 applications worldwide, the scholars received scholarships of $1,000 each to further their associate degree studies. Independent judges evaluated the applications based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential.

"I never thought I would be selected, but I knew I had to try," said Walker, who recently joined WKCTC's Phi Theta Kappa chapter. "It's incredible to be chosen; I can't even get my mind around being selected from so many candidates."

A 2013 Livingston Central High School graduate, Walker enrolled at Rend Lake College in southern Illinois on a softball scholarship. Her collegiate career at Rend Lake was cut short after she severely injured her knee during a softball game in July. A month late, 19-year-old Walker enrolled at WKCTC.

Initially she wanted to be a nurse anesthetist, but that changed after going to physical therapy for six months after her injury. "Before I started physical therapy, I was only looking for a job that would allow me to make good money," Walker said. "I know that becoming a physical therapist can do that too, but it's what I was meant to do and WKCTC is a great place to start."

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.

Walker said the scholarship is a blessing and couldn't have come at a better time for her. "I will graduate with my associate in science degree in May 2015, and this scholarship will help me achieve that goal." After graduation, Walker plans to plan to transfer to Murray State University to study physical therapy and athletic training.

"...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," said Dr. Rod Risley, executive director and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa.

J. Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, said the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges. "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 Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is the largest honor society in higher education with over 1,200 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 three million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 132,000 students inducted annually.

For more information about joining Phi Theta Kappa at WKCTC, contact Dr. Kevin Gericke, PTK advisor, at (270) 534-3201 or kevin.gericke@kctcs.edu.