Northeast State Community College student Shanna Holt earned two impressive scholarship awards.
Holt received the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s New Century Transfer Scholarship and was selected as a member of the All-USA Academic Team, based on scholarship application scores.
“I was pretty shocked,” said Holt, of earning both scholarships. “I didn’t expect it all.”
PTK student members get invitations to submit applications for available scholarships annually. Holt posted the highest score among applicants in Tennessee for the Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Scholarship. She posted on the top 20 scores out of 2,100 applications submitted by PTK member applicants nationally.
The All-USA Academic Team recognizes high-achieving college students demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, and community. The scholarship extends to transfer and workforce students. Students are nominated by their institutions. The New Century Transfer Scholarship recognizes students in each state. Applicants posting the highest application scores earn a spot on All-USA Academic Team application score in their state.
The New Century Scholar Award comes with a $2,250 scholarship. The All-USA Team provides a $5,000 scholarship award. Holt is also one of four semifinalists in Tennessee – all being students at Northeast State – for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
Holt graduates this spring with associate degrees in psychology, sociology, and social work. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology when she transfers to a four-year institution. She ultimately plans to earn a Ph.D. in experimental social psychology.
“I think we can learn a lot by looking at groups of people and consequences based on their social environment,” Holt said. “I hope to learn how we can promote healthy outcomes in groups of people.”
Holt spent considerable time researching social and psychological issues in military veterans. Her research about loneliness revealed how isolation is related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans. Her research also found how trauma affected all human beings over the short and long term.
“Trauma was trauma across populations,” said Holt. “The lonelier people felt, the worse certain PTSD symptoms got.”
Her research noted how loneliness affected human cognition and mood. Feelings of detachment, guilt, and blame became more pronounced among individuals who had suffered traumatic experiences.
“We have many veterans feeling disconnected from their unit once they leave service,” said Holt. “We don’t have social connection options for them afterwards; we need to get people back together in physical spaces, not just online in spaces.”
As a first-generation college student, Holt participated in the TRiO Student Support Services program. For the summer session of 2024, Holt applied to and was accepted into the Ronald McNair program at East Tennessee State University. Her cohort took classes on research methods, presentation skills, graduate school admissions, and professionalism.
Holt became heavily involved with the college’s Alpha Iota Chi chapter of PTK as well as the Northeast State Honors Program. Chapter officers collaborated on several award-winning group projects. They designed a physical gathering space for students on campus and recorded stories of elderly citizens at a local assisted living facility. These projects evolved into missions for future chapter officers.
“Our projects have long-term impact beyond just our time here,” said Holt. “So, it is cool they are going to persist.”
Northeast State Community College student Shanna Holt earned two impressive scholarship awards.
Holt received the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s New Century Transfer Scholarship and was selected as a member of the All-USA Academic Team, based on scholarship application scores.
“I was pretty shocked,” said Holt, of earning both scholarships. “I didn’t expect it all.”
PTK student members get invitations to submit applications for available scholarships annually. Holt posted the highest score among applicants in Tennessee for the Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Scholarship. She posted on the top 20 scores out of 2,100 applications submitted by PTK member applicants nationally.
The All-USA Academic Team recognizes high-achieving college students demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, and community. The scholarship extends to transfer and workforce students. Students are nominated by their institutions. The New Century Transfer Scholarship recognizes students in each state. Applicants posting the highest application scores earn a spot on All-USA Academic Team application score in their state.
The New Century Scholar Award comes with a $2,250 scholarship. The All-USA Team provides a $5,000 scholarship award. Holt is also one of four semifinalists in Tennessee – all being students at Northeast State – for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
Holt graduates this spring with associate degrees in psychology, sociology, and social work. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology when she transfers to a four-year institution. She ultimately plans to earn a Ph.D. in experimental social psychology.
“I think we can learn a lot by looking at groups of people and consequences based on their social environment,” Holt said. “I hope to learn how we can promote healthy outcomes in groups of people.”
Holt spent considerable time researching social and psychological issues in military veterans. Her research about loneliness revealed how isolation is related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans. Her research also found how trauma affected all human beings over the short and long term.
“Trauma was trauma across populations,” said Holt. “The lonelier people felt, the worse certain PTSD symptoms got.”
Her research noted how loneliness affected human cognition and mood. Feelings of detachment, guilt, and blame became more pronounced among individuals who had suffered traumatic experiences.
“We have many veterans feeling disconnected from their unit once they leave service,” said Holt. “We don’t have social connection options for them afterwards; we need to get people back together in physical spaces, not just online in spaces.”
As a first-generation college student, Holt participated in the TRiO Student Support Services program. For the summer session of 2024, Holt applied to and was accepted into the Ronald McNair program at East Tennessee State University. Her cohort took classes on research methods, presentation skills, graduate school admissions, and professionalism.
Holt became heavily involved with the college’s Alpha Iota Chi chapter of PTK as well as the Northeast State Honors Program. Chapter officers collaborated on several award-winning group projects. They designed a physical gathering space for students on campus and recorded stories of elderly citizens at a local assisted living facility. These projects evolved into missions for future chapter officers.
“Our projects have long-term impact beyond just our time here,” said Holt. “So, it is cool they are going to persist.”
Share this:
Like this: