USA TODAY All-USA Community College Academic Team
Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team
In partnership with USA TODAY, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa, the All-USA/All-State Community College Academic Team Programs honor 370 students with nearly $500,000 in stipends annually. These programs share a common application and eligiblity criteria.
Watch for the 2011 Application coming in October 2010.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will again provide the Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team program, providing up to $450,000 in stipends. The top scoring student from each of the 50 states will be named a New Century Scholar and will receive a $2,000 stipend. New Century Scholars will be presented at the AACC Convention. Fifty students will be named Gold Scholars, receiving $1,500, fifty students will be named Silver Scholars, receiving $1,250, and 50 students will be named Bronze Scholars, receiving $1,000. A state may have multiple Gold, Silver or Bronze Scholars. All scholars will also receive special medallions and will be listed in USA TODAY on Monday, April 11, 2011. Finally, an additional 150 national finalists will be selected from multiple states, each receiving a $1,000 stipend. Phi Theta Kappa sponsors 37 All-State Academic Team recognition ceremonies, during which stipends, scholarships and special recognitions are presented to All-State Team winners.
Phi Theta Kappa will administer both recognition programs. Selection to both programs is based on the same nomination form and criteria. These nomination forms must be submitted by community college presidents or CEOs, who received nomination materials in the fall of each year. Eligibility requirements are detailed below.
NOTE: Nominated students who are also Phi Theta Kappa members can qualify for the Guistwhite Scholarship by completing a one-page Guistwhite supplement application. Nominators, see the application page for more information.
Meet the 2010 scholarship recipients and the community colleges they represent!
Related Links
All-USA/All-State Nomination Information
- How to Nominate Students for the Teams
- How to Change the Nominator at your School
- How to Find the Nominator at your School
- Hints for Selecting Nominees
- Eligibility Criteria
- Judging and Awards
- Deadline Contact Information
Find out if your nominee is eligible.
Presidents or designated nominators are invited to submit as many as two nominations from each campus of their institution. Applications can be downloaded at the top of this page. To access the applications, please refer to the password included in the letter found in the nomination packet mailed to the college president/CEO or designated contact.
Applications are mailed to college presidents or their designated contacts the first week of October.
Applications will not be mailed to students. Students interested in being nominated will need to contact the designated nominator at his or her school.
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Every year, the college president or CEO is automatically designated as the Nominator. In August, a letter and "Change of Nominator" form are mailed to the president's office. If the president would like to change the nominator, this form with the name and contact information of the new designee can be returned to Phi Theta Kappa by faxing to 601.984.3546. If this form is unavailable, the president can call 601.987.5741 to request a new form. If the form is not returned to change the designee, all application materials will be mailed to the president.
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How to Find the Nominator at your School
Visit the directory of Community College Nominators to see the designated contact for the USA TODAY All-USA Community College Academic Team/Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team programs.
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Hints for Selecting Nominees
In selecting nominees to represent your institution, presidents are asked to consider outstanding academic rigor and grade point averages; participation in honors programs; awards, honors, and recognition for academic achievement, and service to the college and community.
In addition, the focal point of the application is the essay. This should center around one endeavor undertaken by the student that utilized his or her community college education to improve his or her community or school. Judges look for innovative, creative, original and lasting achievements or undertakings.
For in-depth advice, nominators are encouraged to read the Advice to Nominators.
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Eligibility Criteria
Please review the eligibility criteria carefully as there have been slight changes this year. Even if you have nominated in the past, please take a moment to review the new eligibility criteria. Also, take the eligibility survey to see if your nominee is eligible.
Specific eligibility requirements of note:
- Must be enrolled at a community college through December 2010.
- Must have a cumulative college-level GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for all coursework completed in the last five years (fall 2005-present), regardless of institution attended. If the student has attended more than one school, all transcripts will be recalculated to determine the cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework taken. GPA is evaluated at the point of application.
- Students must be on track to earn an associate or a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent of a U.S. associate or bachelor's degree). Students need to have a minimum of 36 semester (or 48 quarter) college-level credits completed at or transferred to a community college by December 31, 2010 and 48 semester (or 72 quarter), college-level credits by August 31, 2011. Students must have a minimum of 30 semester (or 45 quarter), college-level credit hours completed at a community college in the past five years. (Courses must be college-level. Developmental or remedial coursework, such as pre-algebra or basic writing, will be removed when determining number of credits as well as cumulative GPA.)
- Must not have been nominated previously for the All-USA Community College Academic Team or the Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team.
- Must have a community college record free of suspension, probation or other serious disciplinary action. Nominee must not have a criminal record, and if a convicted felon, must have all conditions of sentencing, including probation, completed.
- Students who attend community college in the United States do not need to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Students attending community colleges outside of the U.S. need to be members of Phi Theta Kappa and may only apply for the New Century Scholars program. Both students attending in the U.S. and internationally should submit the USA TODAY All-USA Community College Academic Team/Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team nomination form and materials.
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Judging and Awards
Independent judges review the applications and select 20 members for the First Team of the USA TODAY All-USA Academic Team. Judges also review and select 50 Gold Scholars to receive $1,500 each, 50 Silver Scholars to receive $1,250 each, and 50 Bronze Scholars to receive $1,000 each for the Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team. In addition, 150 Coca-Cola finalists will be selected and will receive $1,000 stipends. Finally, 52 scholars will be named New Century Scholars and will receive $2,000 each. For more information on awards, recognition and media attention, please view the individual programs under "related links" listed above.
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Deadline
All applications must be received (not postmarked) at Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters by December 1, 2010 5:00pm CST. Late applications will be deemed ineligible.
When mailing your application, it is recommended you use a service that gives you the ability to "track" your package to ensure that it has been delivered to Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters. Due to the high volume of applications received, Phi Theta Kappa staff will not be able to confirm receipt of your application.
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Contact Information
For more information about the All-USA/All State Community College Academic Teams, contact scholarship.programs@ptk.org, 601.987.5741.
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