Valencia College student and Kissimmee resident Cesar Parra has been selected as a 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholar from a highly competitive national pool. He will receive a $1,300 scholarship in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service.
Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and administered by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Coca-Cola Academic Team represents some of the highest-achieving community college students in the nation.
“Winning this scholarship is further proof that when you put in the hard work and the effort, people will recognize and value that,” Parra said.
After graduating from Valencia in May with two associate degrees through the Seneff Honors College, Parra will transfer to the University of Central Florida to study computer engineering. He plans to use his scholarship to move closer to UCF, so he can be as involved in campus life there as he was at Valencia.
His educational journey at Valencia included working as a recreational monitor at the campus fitness center, where he developed an app to help students with personalized exercise plans built around the fitness center’s equipment. He also co-founded an Osceola Campus Sports Club, which has grown to more than 80 active members.
“Valencia has genuinely been a second home to me, and I don’t say that lightly,” Parra said. “I came in without really knowing how any of this worked, and this place met me where I was and gave me room to grow into something I’m proud of.”
Coca-Cola Academic Team scholars will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies. They were also recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention in Baltimore in March.
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier 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