(Leaders of Promise Scholar)
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Political Science major James Crawford has been named a 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The 18-year-old Hemet resident is one of only 207 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members nationwide to earn the honor this year.
“For me, the scholarship is a personal visible validation of the work and community involvement that I have been so proud to be a part of throughout the past couple of years,” said Crawford, who plans to graduate from MSJC in May. “And aside from the obvious financial assistance that the scholarship offers, it also provides further motivation for me to use as I continue throughout my educational and career pathway.”
At MSJC, Crawford is a member of PTK and the Political Science Club, and serves as a mentor for the Honors Enrichment and Supplemental Instruction programs. In the community, he serves on the executive board for the Democrats of Hemet-San Jacinto, where he’s part of the scholarship subcommittee, the voter registration and voter outreach subcommittee, and the youth outreach subcommittee. He has also helped on several political campaigns, including Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign.
After MSJC, Crawford plans to transfer to UC Riverside or UC Berkeley to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science, and eventually earn a doctorate in political theory. He said he hopes to become a professor at a community college, and continue actively participating in various political campaigns and organizations.
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in PTK programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Nearly 700 applications were received.
“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.”
The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion, but also give students the opportunity to engage in PTK programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities.
“Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “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.”
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. PTK has more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with about 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org.
Mt. San Jacinto College serves about 27,000 students in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula, with campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, Banning and Temecula.Fall registration is underway and the semester starts Aug. 17. Transform your life at MSJC.
In May 2020, Mt. San Jacinto College awarded a record-breaking 3,554 degrees and certificates to 1,958 graduates.
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