Savage named Coca-Cola academic team member

By Elizabeth Burkard
Director of Marketing
SSCC

Southern State Community College is pleased to announce that Logan Savage has been named a member of the 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team and will receive a $1,300 scholarship.

Savage, Vice President of Service in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter and a student at SSCC for the last two years, will be graduating in May with her Associate of Arts degree and a concentration in Theatre.  She plans to transfer to a four-year university to earn her bachelor’s degree and double major in Theatre and Communication Arts.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

“I offer my sincere congratulations to Logan,” said Dr. Nicole Roades, president of Southern State Community College. “She is truly one of our most exceptional students. On behalf of the College, we are incredibly proud to have her as part of our community. It is wonderful to see her dedication to academics and strong personal discipline recognized and celebrated.”
 
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.

Portraying once-in-a-lifetime roles in several of SSCC’s theatre productions, Savage shared her thoughts on involvement in the theatre department and her time at SSCC. 

“Involvement with our excellent theatre department has provided me with opportunities that are incredibly special to me and helped me grow my skill level and passion for what I love most.  Overall, Southern State has set me up for future success and taught me that when you push yourself in every way possible to get involved on campus, go the extra mile in your academics, and take opportunities seriously, college is so much more than a place you attend every week. It becomes an immersive experience that will help you grow as a student and a person.” 

She added, “A quote by Lao Tzu that I strongly resonate with is: ‘New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.’  This perfectly summarizes my time coming to an end at SSCC. From day one, my life has been shaped for the better, and I truly cherish every moment I’ve experienced. Attending SSCC was one of the best decisions, and it will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

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

Coca-Cola Academic Team members were recognized in statewide ceremonies, as well as internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 26-28.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

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 first 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 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org.  

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