College of Western Idaho (CWI) Liberal Arts major, Belinda Reyff, received a prestigious recognition on Wednesday (Feb. 26) as one of only 51 college students nationwide to be named 2014 New Century Scholars. The New Century Scholars Program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and the American Association of Community Colleges.
More than 1,700 students were nominated from more than 900 community colleges for the New Century Scholars and All-USA Community College Academic Team recognitions. Recipients were selected based on grades, leadership, activities, and how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.
“I was stunned and at a loss for words to here I was selected,” says Reyff. “This honor means that struggles, challenges, and other complications can be overcome--that you can turn obstacles in life into accomplishments.”
Reyff, a first generation college student, was selected based on her nomination for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society All-USA Community College Academic Team. New Century Scholars are the highest scoring students from their respective states through the nomination process. In being selected, she will receive a $2,000 scholarship and be presented at the American Association of College Presidents (AACC) Convention in Washington, D.C. She is also eligible for inclusion in the All-USA Academic Team, which will be announced later this spring.
“This scholarship will help me move forward because it will relieve the stress of how I was going to pay for my last semester in order to graduate with my degree. I am the first in my family to go to college and now thanks to receiving this scholarship I will be able to fulfill my dream of obtaining my degree and set a great example to, not only my fellow classmates, but also to my boys.”