SCC student Jordan Smith has been named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
Smith was named a recipient at the Iowa Phi Theta Kappa Awards Banquet in Des Moines on February 26. 
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars from across the US with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.
SCC’s Phi Theta Kappa advisor Carlene Woodside said being named a Coca-Cola Scholar is no easy feat, and Smith’s honor is extra-special.
“We’ve had a handful SCC students named Coca-Cola Scholars over the years,” said Woodside. “However, Jordan is the first to be recognized as a Gold Scholar.”
Smith was surprised to win and quick to share the recognition.
“To have been one of 150 in the country truly shocked me,” said Smith. “I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude: gratitude for Jesus Christ, because he is the reason I received the award, and to have the ability to represent SCC in a positive light and make my family proud.”
Smith will be honored with fellow Coca-Cola Academic Team members during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Orlando, Florida, April 4-6.
Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.
About the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. Supporting more than 1,400 exceptional college students each year, it awards $3.55 million in scholarships annually through three nationally recognized programs. Learn more at coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
For more SCC news, visit scciowa.edu.