March 5, 2025

East Mississippi Community College sophomore Anna Borst has been named a 2025 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars nationwide with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion. The Coca-Cola Academic Team members were selected out of a pool of nearly 2,100 applicants.

Borst, who serves at the vice president of Fellowship for the Beta Iota Zeta chapter of PTK on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus, will be recognized at the Hallmark Awards Gala during PTK’s annual convention, which will take place April 3-5 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I am both honored and humbled to have been selected for this honor,” Borst said. “I am grateful to Phi Theta Kappa and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and am excited for the opportunity to meet other Phi Theta Kappa student members during the annual convention.”

Students are nominated for the academic team by their PTK advisors. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

Beta Iota Zeta chapter advisors are Scott Baine, Brian Tesch and Dr. Kelly Cantrell. Baine said Borst’s selection for the team is a testament to her diligence and dedication.

“Anna’s fingerprints are literally on every aspect of student engagement at EMCC,” Baine said. “Come to think about it, I don’t know of a single student organization that she isn’t involved with. Plus, Anna does it all with such energy and grace. Her contributions to our campus set her apart, making her nomination one of the easiest decisions we have ever made.”

Borst, of Montpelier, is a sophomore on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus who is majoring in elementary education. She plans to attend Mississippi University for Women after she graduates from EMCC to continue her studies in that field. Her goal is to become a kindergarten teacher.

Borst is president of the Student Ambassadors on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus, where she also serves as that campus’ secretary for the Student Government Association. She is also a student recruiter, an orientation leader and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Borst is a member of Phi Theta Kappa’s 2025 All-Mississippi Academic Team and the 2024 Homecoming Queen for EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus.

“PTK has provided me with opportunities I would not have otherwise had,” Borst said. “PTK opened educational doors for me and helped to foster personal growth in so many areas. I will forever be grateful for my time with PTK.”

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 premier 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 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.