ROME - The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has awarded two students at Georgia Highlands College $1,000 scholarships for demonstrating academic success and community service. April Wilson and Bassel Rabah were presented the scholarships by GHC's Vice President for Student Services Dr. Ron Shade. A GHC student has received the scholarship award for the past four years. This year is the first time two recipients from the college have been chosen.
Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards a total of 400 scholarships annually to students attending two-year and technical colleges. The scholarship is designed to honor students who balance the responsibilities of school work and family, but also find the time to give back to their communities through volunteer service.
While at GHC, Wilson and Rabah have displayed commitment to education, campus leadership and community involvement. Wilson currently serves as president of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, teaches self-esteem classes to adolescent girls at West Rome Christian Church and assists patients at the Rome Free Health Clinic. Rabah serves as the vice president of scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa and president of the GHC Book Club. He is also GHC team captain for Relay for Life.
Together, Wilson and Rabah have organized charity events at GHC including The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, Coats on Campus and Christmas in July to collect items for children in need throughout Floyd and Bartow Counties. Wilson is a nursing student at GHC and hopes to pursue a career as a labor and delivery nurse, while Rabah is studying political science with plans to attend Emory University in 2009.
Georgia Highlands College is an associate-degree granting unit of the University System of Georgia serving more than 4,500 students at five sites in Rome, Cartersville, Carrollton and Marietta.