Have a coke, a smile, and a scholarship.

Barton Community College sophomore Devan Boeger was recently selected as a recipient of a $1,000 Leaders of Promise scholarship.

Sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa and funded by the Coca-Cola Scholarship Foundation, more than 1,500 students applied for their chance at one of the 180 awards that were given nationally for 2011.

"It feels really good. I was just surprised," Boeger said of receiving the award.

Scholarships are valuable to Boeger for reasons beyond the monetary aspect.

"I want to try and get through school with as little cost as possible, but the other reason is that I’m just trying to be as good as I can be in all aspects of my life, and it’s rewarding to know that what you’re doing does pay off at some point in time," she said.

Boeger is the first BCC student to achieve a Leaders of Promise award. BCC Phi Theta Kappa co-chairman Stephannie Goerl said Boeger is very deserving of the award.

"Devan is a take-charge kind of person, and she just loves to be involved," Goerl said. "In every aspect of her life, whether it’s academic or athletics, she just tries to do her best, and she always shines."

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,275 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States and several other countries internationally. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted to Phi Theta Kappa since its founding in 1918, with approximately 125,000 students inducted annually.

Boeger is the Community Service co-chair and Communication co-chair for Phi Theta Kappa, and she believes her experience as a member of the honor society affords her the opportunity to build a strong knowledge base academically and enrich her experiences in a variety of social settings.

"I think it really shows that you’re capable of being a member of a group, working hard to serve your community and working well with others, instead of just being focused in one area," Boeger said. "It helps show that there is more variety to you and that you’re more of a well-balanced person."

The Coca−Cola Scholars Foundation works on behalf and at the direction of the entire Coca−Cola system, to provide scholarship programs and alumni enrichment opportunities in support of exceptional peoples’ quest for knowledge and their desire to make a difference in the world. The foundation’s mission is to develop a powerful network of community leaders whose vision will help shape the world and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

In addition to her involvement in PTK, Boeger is also a member of the Lady Cougars basketball team, President of the Community Student Organization, a peer tutor, a lifeguard on occasion and is involved with the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.