Abigail Tossou, a Quad-Cities Campus student from East Moline, is one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa honor society members named a 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. She received a $1,000 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Tossou is pursuing an Associate in Science degree.
Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in society programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. The 2022 Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program received more than 1,300 applications and awarded $207,000.
Tossou moved to the United States from Togo, West Africa, in August 2012. While she spoke two languages – French and Ewe – she was not fluent in English. She started her American education as a fourth grader in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Washington Elementary School in Moline.
In just three years, she passed the ESL exams and moved into regular English and writing classes by seventh grade at Wilson Middle School in Moline. She later attended Moline High School where she ran track and field for four years.
Tossou volunteers her time on and off campus and is involved in several Black Hawk College clubs and organizations. She is secretary of the Student Government Association, vice president of leadership for Phi Theta Kappa, and a mentor in the TRIO Connect mentor-mentee program.
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.