(West Burlington, IA) - Southeastern Community College student Kadence Dieckow has been named a member of the 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team and will receive a $1,300 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. The recognition also helped her earn a full-ride scholarship to Iowa State University.
Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Coca-Cola Academic Team program recognizes some of the highest-achieving community college students in the nation. The program awards nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually, and each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.
Dieckow was selected from a highly competitive national pool of applicants and recognized as a member of the All-Iowa Academic Team at a banquet in Des Moines on Monday, March 2, hosted by Community Colleges for Iowa. During the ceremony, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, presented Coca-Cola Academic Team awards to seven Iowa students.
When her name was announced, Dieckow and her mother were stunned.
“What? That’s me! I can’t believe I won,” Dieckow said.
Dieckow, of Oquawka, Illinois, completed her Associate of Arts coursework in December and will receive her degree from SCC this May. She plans to transfer to Iowa State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work.
A TRiO student while attending SCC, Dieckow was also active in the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter.
“Kadence has been an active Phi Theta Kappa member for our chapter and has been involved in meetings, fundraising, and community activities,” said SCC Phi Theta Kappa advisor Carlene Woodside. “I'm excited for her and know she will continue to blossom at Iowa State.”
Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.
About the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. Supporting more than 1,400 exceptional college students each year, it awards $3.55 million in scholarships annually through three nationally recognized programs. Learn more at coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the first 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 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
Kadence Dieckow with Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, CEO of Phi Theta Kappa.
Kadence Dieckow with other scholarship recipients at the All-Iowa Academic Team Scholarship banquet.