College of the Mainland student Cody Kelemen, 17, of Texas City, is one of two students selected across the country for the 2016 GEICO Pathway to Completion Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship.

Kelemen was selected from 1,800 applicants nationwide for outstanding academic achievement, leadership accomplishment and engagement in Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society.

“Phi Theta Kappa has helped me become more of a leader. It’s made me more organized. It’s taught me how to better manage my time,” said Kelemen.

He also has been selected a 2016 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar. The award is given to only 50 community college students across the nation. This program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Kelemen was selected as a Coca-Cola Gold Scholar based on his scores for leadership and academic excellence earned in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition, which attracted more than 1,900 applications this year.

COM professor Dalel Serda nominated Kelemen, of Texas City, for both awards.

“He’s humble, hard-working and ambitiously drawn to a more just world. He works hard to ensure that end for himself and for his peers,” said Serda. “He's one of the officers on our team who refuses to wait to be told what to do or how to do it or when to do it. He begins most of those conversations or more often, begins the actions.”

Kelemen serves as COM’s Honors in Action Project co-chair. Each year students select a project to meet a community need. The group is also facilitating a conference for PTK members this month on skills for success, such as how to dress professionally and communicate effectively.

Kelemen has been accepted to Sam Houston State University to study criminal justice.

For more information on COM Phi Theta Kappa, contact Dalel Serda at dserda@com.edu.

For more information on COM Collegiate High School, visit www.com.edu/chs