Tri-C Student Named a Coca-Cola Leader of Promise Scholar

Enzo Zaccardelli honored for academic achievement and leadership

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Enzo Zaccardelli has been named a 2015 Coca-Cola Leader of Promise Scholar in recognition of his academic achievement and leadership.

He is one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society members from across the country selected for the award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. A panel of judges considered more than 1,100 candidates.

“It was exciting to hear I won,” said Zaccardelli, 19, who attends classes at Tri-C’s Western Campus in his hometown of Parma. “The scholarship money allows me to focus my time on school so that I can continue achieving good grades instead of worrying about paying for tuition.”

Zaccardelli completed his first year at Tri-C with a 3.97 GPA and is on track to graduate in May with an Associate of Arts. After earning his degree, he intends to transfer to Cleveland State University in fall 2016 to study history and anthropology.

His long-term goals include gaining a master’s degree in anthropology and teaching the subject at the college level. Zaccardelli said he wants to create a better world by encouraging cultural understanding.

His interest in anthropology began his junior year at Parma’s Padua Franciscan High School.

“I feel we need more people to break down barriers between different cultures and countries,”
he said.

Zaccardelli is involved with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, International Club and Student Peace Alliance at Western Campus. Earlier this fall, he represented the College at U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s collegiate leadership summit.

He said attending Tri-C will help him minimize debt on his higher education journey.

“I chose Tri-C for the price, location and to get some of my general education classes out of the way so that when I transfer to CSU, I’ll be ahead,” Zaccardelli said.

Outside of campus activities, he is a member of the National Italian American Foundation and the Italian Home Family Club. He is proud of his family heritage and traveled through Italy last summer. He also boxes in his free time to stay fit. 

November 25, 2015

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu