Students representing various Miami Dade College (MDC) campuses were awarded Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society scholarships, including the Hites Transfer Scholarship, Guistwhite Scholarship and the All-USA Academic Team.
An MDC Padrón Campus student, Lorena Cardenas, was awarded an impressive three scholarships in total – All-USA Academic Team, New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar, and Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship.
A list of PTK scholarship winners follows:
Hites Transfer Scholarship — The Hites Transfer Scholarship is PTK’s most prestigious and largest scholarship offering at $7,500. It recognizes outstanding academic achievement and rigor, engagement in college and community activities, and leadership accomplishment of Phi Theta Kappa members preparing to transfer to senior institutions in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. These MDC students are part of a prestigious group of 22 recipients, selected from over 2,800 applications: Isabel Paz (Kendall Campus), Nicole Liethof (Padrón Campus) and Chabeli Quincoces (Padrón Campus).
Guistwhite Scholar — Daniel Yantani Coto, a Homestead Campus student, is one of only nine PTK members nationwide to receive this prestigious honor, which awards a $5,000 scholarship for baccalaureate studies. Guistwhite Scholars were selected from a highly competitive pool of 2,800 applicants across the country. Recipients were chosen based on their outstanding academic achievements, exemplary leadership, and dedicated engagement in PTK programs, while also exhibiting leadership accomplishments and outstanding academic achievement during the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.
All-USA Academic Team — This year, two MDC students were chosen from a national pool of nearly 2,100 nominees for the 2025 All-USA Academic Team. Each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship. The All-USA program is among the nation’s premier academic honors for students pursuing an associate degree. The program also honors students who leverage their community college experience to better themselves, improve their schools and impact their communities. Recipients are Erick Pinzón (Kendall Campus) and Lorena Cardenas (Padrón Campus).
The Coca-Cola Academic Team — The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. This scholarship recognizes high-achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit
society. Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators.
The Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship winners from MDC include: Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar $1,500 scholarship winners were Grace Solis (Homestead Campus) and Valentina Burgos (Wolfson Campus). Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar $1,250 scholarship went to Jose Guizan (Padrón Campus).
2025 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar — Padrón Campus student Lorena Cardenas was named a 2025 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar. This scholarship, which awards $2,250, recognizes high-achieving students in each state; Cardenas is No. 1 in Florida.
Scholars are selected from the highest All-USA Academic Team application score in their state and indicate an intent to transfer to a four-year college after graduation. The New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, with additional support provided by the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa.
Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship — Lorena Cardenas also was awarded the Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship, a $1,500 award that helps students overcome unanticipated financial barriers preventing the completion of a student’s first college credential, an associate degree or certificate, while enrolled in college. Named in honor of Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf, the scholarship is conferred with a commitment from the student to finish college.
PTK Hallmark Awards — Tomas Silvera (Padrón Campus) has been selected for PTK’s 2025 Distinguished Chapter Officer Awards.
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 nations, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org.
MDC Media Contacts: Sue Arrowsmith, director of media relations, 305-237-3710, sarrowsm@mdc.edu; or Norma Ardila, 305-237-3607, nardila@mdc.edu.
This and other MDC releases are available at news.mdc.edu.
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