Cesar Parra, a Valencia College student and Kissimmee resident, has been selected as a 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholar from a competitive national pool. He will receive a $1,300 scholarship in recognition of his academic achievement, leadership and service. The Coca-Cola Academic Team is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and administered by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Parra will graduate from Valencia in May with two associate degrees through the Seneff Honors College, then transfer to the University of Central Florida to study computer engineering. He plans to use the scholarship to move closer to UCF so he can be as involved in campus life there as he was at Valencia. During his time at the college he worked as a recreational monitor at the campus fitness center, where he developed an app to help students build personalized exercise plans around the center's equipment, and he co-founded an Osceola Campus Sports Club that has grown to more than 80 active members.
Parra described Valencia as a second home, saying he arrived without knowing how things worked and that the college met him where he was and gave him room to grow. Coca-Cola Academic Team scholars will be recognized at local and statewide ceremonies, and were also recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa's annual convention in Baltimore in March. Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for students at associate degree-granting colleges, reports more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members.
Press release issued by Valencia College:
https://news.valenciacollege.edu/valencia-college-student-named-2026-coca-cola-academic-team-scholar/
🤖 AI-assisted content notice: This item was written with AI assistance from the source document linked above. The underlying facts come from that public source, not from our own reporting. No quotes, interviews or original reporting are implied. Spotted something wrong? Email corrections@theorlandoconnect.com.
