Hazlet Resident Named 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar

HAZLET, NJ – Three Brookdale Community College students, including one Hazlet resident, were recently named 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars, according to a release from the school.

Aidan Deluca, Cathleen Kane and Valeska Yaninas – all members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society of two-year colleges – were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship for their academic accomplishments.

Kane, a resident of Hazlet who aims to study education, became a member of PTK in the spring and serves as the vice president of membership communications for the honor society. She works with the other officers in facilitating volunteer opportunities for the chapter.

In a statement, Kane recognized the assistance she received from her professors at Brookdale, who helped the student maximize her full potential.

“While some professors in larger schools might look at students as just another face in the classroom, the Brookdale professors take the time to get to know you, what areas you thrive in, what areas you might struggle in, what your future plans are, and more,” Kane said. “The professors at Brookdale are also extremely caring and want to see their students succeed.”

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program, which offers the annual awards, assists PTK members with educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. According to Dr. Monica Marlowe, the executive director of Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to finish a college degree than their peers.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “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 leaders of the global community.”

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