Jackson, MS – Leah Langley, a student at Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), has been named a 2026 New Century Workforce Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
This scholarship is the first of its kind to support students at associate degree-granting institutions on a national scale as they plan to enter the workforce upon completing a degree or certificate. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
New Century Workforce Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities, and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. More than 2,300 students from nearly 1,400 college campuses nationwide were nominated. Only one New Century Workforce Scholar was selected from each state.
Langley is a sophomore in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN, RN) program at BPCC. She is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, the BPCC Student Nurses Association, the National Student Nurses Association, and Sigma Kappa Delta. Leah is also a BPCC Foundation Scholar and is honored to receive the BREMCO Endowed Scholarship in Nursing this spring.
She values the supportive atmosphere at BPCC, especially the College’s emphasis on community outreach, the strong bonds she has built with her classmates, and the excellence of the Nursing program.
“I’m grateful for my family and friends and their support for me while I undertake this adventure,” Langley said. “I’m also grateful to BPCC for the opportunities it offers to help build myself professionally and personally.”
In recognizing Leah’s achievement, Phi Theta Kappa leadership praised both her academic excellence and the impact of scholarship support in helping students reach their goals.
“We congratulate Leah for receiving this prestigious scholarship, and we are honored to partner with The Coca-Cola Foundation to recognize these outstanding achievements,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s President and CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for students to succeed as they prepare to enter the workforce and for putting college completion within reach.”
Michelle Triplet, BPCC’s Phi Theta Kappa advisor, said the honor is a reflection of both Leah’s exceptional accomplishments and her dedication to serving others.
“Leah’s selection as a 2026 New Century Workforce Scholar is an extraordinary achievement and a reflection of her unwavering commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service,” said Triplet. “To earn the highest score in Louisiana in the Phi Theta Kappa Fall Scholarship competition speaks volumes about her dedication, work ethic, and impact on our campus community. We are incredibly proud of Leah and excited to see how this well-deserved $1,500 scholarship will support her continued success.”
The New Century Workforce Scholars will be recognized at Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 26-28.