Western Nebraska Community College student Ethan Nelson has been named Nebraska's 2015 Coca-Cola New Century Scholar after posting the state's top application score among nominees to the All-USA Community College Academic Team.
Nelson is one of only 50 New Century Scholars from across the United States and American Samoa. More than 1,700 students from over 1,000 community colleges were nominated for the honor. Ethan will receive a $2,000 scholarship and will be presented at the American Association of Community College (AACC) annual convention in San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to being named a New Century Scholar, Nelson received the 2015 Congressional Award Bronze Medal, the 4H Diamond Clover Award, the Nebraska Hixson-Lied Award for Young Artists in both instrumental performance and visual arts, and was a NASA Space Grant recipient through WNCC. Finally, Nelson was named to the 2015 Phi Theta Kappa All-Nebraska Academic Team.
Ethan grew up on a farm in Dalton, Nebraska and was homeschooled by his mother. He started taking dual-credit courses (high school courses that earn college credit) at WNCC's Sidney and Scottsbluff campuses when he was 15 and became a full-time student at age 17.
Nelson will graduate this May with an Associate of Science in General Studies. He will continue his education in the area of cognitive science at the University of Pennsylvania.
The New Century Scholar program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, with additional support provided by the AACC and Phi Theta Kappa. Nominations were evaluated on academic achievement, leadership, service, and a response to a significant endeavor.