Soto-Lopez named 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar
September 8, 2022CAMP student hopes to inspire more women to consider careers in STEM fields
Yuma, AZ (September 8, 2022) – Alexandra Lynnette Soto-Lopez, 20, aspires to one day work on the development of spacecraft and aircraft as an aerospace engineer.
Thanks to a recent scholarship, she’s one step closer to making that dream a reality.
On August 16, Soto-Lopez was announced as one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa members to be named a 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. With this prestigious honor comes a $1,000 scholarship to help defray educational expenses while she is enrolled in associate degree programs at Arizona Western College. Over 1,300 applications were submitted for this award.
“When I received this scholarship, it felt like hope. I have hope that I will have other opportunities to earn scholarships and continue my higher education. I just feel beyond grateful for this opportunity,” she said.
Soto-Lopez is currently triple majoring in physics, mathematics, and engineering. While she has received scholarships from the AWC Foundation, the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), and the Honors Program to cover the cost of her tuition and books, she said that the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise scholarship will provide her with additional support to help her pay for the school supplies she needs for her classes.
After she graduates in May of 2023, she plans to transfer to a university to earn bachelor’s degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering, followed by a master’s and PhD in aerospace engineering. When she envisions her future, she sees herself working behind the scenes to develop, design, and test spacecraft and aircraft.
“I feel like I’ve found my calling. I know for sure I want to work within the engineering field because it’s something that I feel passionate about.”
She initially began her classes as a physics major, and then, after taking a required engineering course, she became more interested in the field. Soto-Lopez was surprised when she discovered she was one of only two girls in her engineering class. After some research, she was disheartened to learn that over 85 percent of aerospace engineers are men.
“That kind of scared me a bit, because it made me wonder – what if I’m not able to do this? What if I can’t do it?”
But she persisted. And so far, her hard work has paid off. She was recently nominated as the AWC Student of the Month and was recognized with the award at a District Governing Board meeting on August 17. Soto-Lopez was described by her advisor Rafael Encinas as a resourceful student who has shown a tremendous amount of growth and success during her time at the college.
“That award showed me that if I push myself past my own limits, one day I can have the opportunity to work in the field of aerospace engineering,” she said. “I hope I can also encourage more women to pursue a career in STEM fields. I know that girls are as capable as boys to do anything.”
To be chosen for the Leaders of Promise scholarship, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation selects award recipients based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. In addition to being in the Honors Program at AWC, Soto-Lopez is also a part of the CAMP Program and was the secretary for the CAMP Student Association (CAMPSA) Club. As a member of the club, she has had the opportunity to participate in several community service activities including the Dia Del Campesino event, where she and her fellow classmates woke up early on a chilly December morning around 1 a.m. to spend their time handing out food, clothes, and gifts to farmworkers.
“It felt like an honor to give back, it gave me a nice homey feeling,” she said. “I come from parents who have worked in the agricultural fields. My dad still works in the fields and now my mom cleans houses for a living to provide food on the table.”
CAMP is a federally funded program designed to meet the needs of students with migrant or seasonal farm-working backgrounds. Soto-Lopez shared that this program has helped her feel like she’s part of a community of people with similar backgrounds who know what it’s like to have family working in the agriculture fields. This semester at AWC, over 100 students are working to transform their lives through the CAMP program.
When asked specifically about Soto-Lopez, CAMP staff collectively shared, “Alexandra is an exceptional student who is highly motivated to succeed. She aspires to work in the field of engineering and is determined to create a sustainable and successful life for both herself and her community. She thinks big and plans accordingly. Furthermore, she has proven to be a tenacious and headstrong individual who is not afraid to ask questions and to do whatever necessary to learn. Excellence is just a word. Alexandra is a real-world example.”
More about the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program
A total of $207,000 is awarded through the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation provides $200,000 in funding for the scholarships, with $25,000 set aside for members who are veterans or active members of the United States military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation and provides seven Global Leaders of Promise Scholarships, earmarked for international students.
“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”
The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion, but also give students the opportunity to engage in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities.
“Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”
More about Phi Theta Kappa
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 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
Contact:
Rosalia Delgado
College Assistance Migrant Program Director
Arizona Western College
Rosalia.Delgado@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7703
Contact:
David E. Kern
Professor of English and Honors Program Director
Arizona Western College
David.Kern@azwestern.edu
(928) 317-5881
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Caption information: Alexandra Lynnette Soto-Lopez (pictured center) was one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa members to be named a 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. With this prestigious honor comes a $1,000 scholarship to help defray educational expenses while she is enrolled in associate degree programs at Arizona Western College. She is currently triple majoring in physics, mathematics, and engineering. Soto-Lopez plans to graduate from AWC in the spring of 2023 and aspires to become an aerospace engineer. She is pictured here receiving the August Student of the Month Award at a recent AWC District Governing Board meeting. Pictured from left to right: her mother Joanna, College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Director Rosalia Delgado, Soto-Lopez, CAMP Academic Advisor and Transition Coordinator Rafael Encinas, and CAMP Outreach and Activities Coordinator Aidaly Quintana.