COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA STUDENT WINS NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND JOINS ALL-PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC TEAM

PHILADELPHIA, April 3, 2009 — Community College of Philadelphia student Mary Anderson won dual honors recently as a Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation national finalist and as a member of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

Anderson, 38, of Northeast Philadelphia, is one of two Community College of Philadelphia students to win recognition in the national competition sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. As a national finalist, Anderson will receive a $1,000 stipend.

In addition, Anderson was one of two students at the College to be named to the 2009 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. This honor comes with a full scholarship to any of the 14 state-owned universities. A ceremony was held on March 30 in Harrisburg to honor Anderson and the other All-Pennsylvania Team members.

President of the College's Student Government Association and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Anderson expects to graduate in May with an associate's degree in Education with a concentration on Elementary Education. She plans to transfer to West Chester University in the fall.

The mother of three children, who dropped out of school in the eighth grade, never gave up her dream of going to college despite her struggles with poverty, abuse and depression. When her kids were all in their teens, Anderson decided it was time to do something about her interrupted education. She took classes at a community center near her home to qualify for a high school GED, and then she came to Community College of Philadelphia.

When she landed in the College's enrollment center at 17th and Spring Garden streets in 2006, Anderson said she was flying on blind hope. “I had no idea that I could even attend college when I walked in here," she recalled. “I was just praying that something would work out. I never imagined the opportunities that would come my way."

The All-Pennsylvania Academic Team program began as an outgrowth of the All-USA Community College Academic Team and the Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team programs. Phi Theta Kappa coordinates the awards programs, which are sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Candidates are drawn from the all-state teams in 50 participating states and Canada. The programs share a common application and eligibility criteria.