Anoka-Ramsey Community College student, Jahlaynah Arnold, has been selected as a 2009 Coca-Cola Gold Scholar, based on her scores in the All-USA Academic Team competition in March. The Coca-Cola Scholar program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the honor society for two-year colleges. As a Gold Scholar, Arnold receives a certificate, gold medallion, and a check for $1,500. Her name will also be listed as a Gold Scholar in a special section in the April 6 “USA Today.”

Through the post-secondary education option (PSEO), Arnold graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School and Anoka-Ramsey Community College with an associate of arts degree last year. Now, she plans to transfer from Anoka-Ramsey in the fall of 2009 to a four-year college to major in biology with a pre-medicine focus, and then go to a medical school to become a doctor.

Arnold, boasting a 3.96 grade point average, wrote an essay about a service project her chapter of Phi Theta Kappa performed as part of the award process. The project involved distributing reusable bags via the Anoka-Ramsey Cambridge Campus bookstore.

“Our goals were to reduce carbon emissions, reduce plastic waste and to inform our community of the significant impact each person can make by shopping with reusable bags,” says Arnold of the project.

Of the Gold Scholar award, Arnold adds, “I have many years of college ahead of me, which will not be easy to finance. My mother and siblings live in Arizona on a teacher’s salary, while I live in Minnesota with my grandmother so I can attend college. Even with my family’s full support in my education, I would not be able to continue toward a doctorate degree without financial support from the Coca-Cola Gold Scholarship. It is an honor to be recognized for the dedication I have towards my academic, leadership and service roles.”