Southern State Student Earns Coca-Cola Scholarship

Southern State Community College student Zaylee Arrington has been named a 2026 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar, earning her a $1,000 scholarship. The Highland County native aims to complete her Associate of Arts degree concurrently with her high school graduation before pursuing studies in psychology and neurology.

Arrington's academic merit, community service, and leadership potential earned her the recognition. She cited two guiding principles: Queen Liliʻuokalani's reminder 'never cease to act because you fear you may fail' and her grandfather's motto 'life is good.'

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps defray educational costs for members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Recipients are chosen based on academic merit, community service, and leadership potential.