The Coca-Cola Company and NACDA are pleased to recognize these seven student-athletes as the 2005-2006 National Coca-Cola Community All-Americans. Their inspiring stories are a result of their selfless contributions to community service and deserve to be celebrated and shared. You can read about them here.
We hope these stories will inspire you to nominate future Coca-Cola Community All-Americans on your campus and in your community.
To see last year's National Coca-Cola Community All-Americans please click the link below.
2005-06 and 2004-2005 National Coca-Cola Community All-Americans (pdf)
Garrett Johnson, Florida State University, Division I-A
Garrett Johnson is a 2005 graduate of Florida State University with a 3.82 GPA in political science and English. Now in his fourth year, Johnson is pursuing his master’s degree in public administration. He earned the Golden Torch Award for the highest GPA on the men’s track and field team. At the 2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Johnson placed seventh in the shot put and eighth in the discus. Last year, he was ranked among the top 25 shot put throwers in the world and broke the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) indoor shot put record in 2005. An NCAA indoor and outdoor track and field All-American, Johnson established the ACC’s indoor shot put record. He was named the ACC Track and Field Freshman of the Year in 2003. He also earned FSU’s Golden Torch Award for the highest GPA on the men’s track and field team and is a 2005 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar. In 2004-05, Johnson worked as the assistant to the executive director for the Governor’s Haiti Advisory Group (HAG) where he provided group members with critical research and analysis on major areas of concern. In April 2005, Johnson became the special assistant to the governor and chief of staff, where he helped implement HAG recommendations and served as a liaison between members of the Florida legislature and the governor’s office during natural disasters. Additionally, Johnson is vice chair of the ACC Student-Athlete Advisory Council and president of FSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council. In November 2005, Johnson was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. His philanthropic cause is the Assembly of Togetherness in Christ.
Steve Hutcheson, Iona College, Division I-AA
A 2006 graduate of Iona College with a 3.97 GPA, Steve Hutcheson majored in international studies with a concentration in Spanish. He was named to the Dean’s List three times and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) New York Lottery Academic Honor Roll three times. Last fall, he was inducted into Delta Epsilon Sigma, the national honor society of colleges in the Catholic tradition. Hutcheson helped organize and volunteered for the Midnight Run, delivering food and clothing to New York City’s homeless; the Iona College Hospitality Dinners; and the 2005 World Aids Day. He is also involved in Project Sunshine, playing with children in the hospital; Best Buddies, working with physically and mentally disabled adults; Habitat for Humanity; playing basketball with young children at the YMCA; and a soup kitchen. He volunteers about 40 hours per month. Hutcheson is also a member of Iona’s men’s soccer team where he served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Hutcheson’s philanthropic causes are Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and the Midnight Run.
Kara Vaneck, Boston University, Division I-AAA
Kara Vaneck graduated from Boston University with a 3.67 GPA in physics. Last summer, Vaneck traveled to Greece where she volunteered at an organic kiwi farm and at a pony farm for therapeutic riding that allowed people with special needs to help take care of and interact with the animals. She has also volunteered with The Silva Project, a fund-raising initiative for horse conservation; collecting money for tsunami relief and Hurricane Katrina victims; a toy drive; a pollution awareness campaign; reading to children; Boo at the Zoo; teaching Sunday school; and the Red Cross. Additionally, Vaneck spearheaded the addition of a course in the physical education curriculum that is taught by student-athletes and coaches to familiarize the student body with varsity sports and to encourage their attendance at athletics events. Vaneck was the captain of BU’s golf team. She was 27th at the Northeast Championships in 2005; seventh at the America East Championship, 12th at the Massachusetts State Invitational and 50th at the TPC/Virginia Beach Invitational in 2004; and 13th at the Bryant Invitational in 2003. She was named to the 2005 America East Academic Honor Roll; has been on the Dean’s List from 2003 through 2005; and was a National Society of Collegiate Scholars nominee from 2003 through 2005. She plans to support the Cleveland Green Building Coalition and the Pan Mass Challenge as her philanthropic causes.
Katie Hensley, Emporia State University, Division II
An elementary education major with an emphasis in middle school English at Emporia State University, Katie Hensley boasts a 3.77 GPA. She has been captain, co-captain, business captain and conditioning trainer for the Stingers Dance Team. As captain, she led the team to ESU’s first National Dance Alliance Collegiate Cheer and Dance Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. Additionally, Hensley was a section leader in the marching band. She has also been vice chair, spirit chair/E-Zone coordinator and on the Senior Night and Alumni committees for ESU’s Ambassadors. She is president of ESU’s Young Democrats group, vice president of Xi Phi Honorary Leadership Fraternity and a member of the student Homecoming Committee. Hensley has volunteered with the Helen Hocker Theater Summer Camp, Highland Park High School Cheerleaders, an elementary school after-school program, the Xi Phi Annual Blood Drive, at the Emporia Recreation Center and on several political campaigns. She was a spring commencement graduation marshal in 2005 and was ranked in Who’s Who Among American College Students in 2004. Hensley has been the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Marvin R. Webb Veterans Memorial, Presidential Academic, Governor Joan Finney Memorial and the Shepherd Scholar award. She plans to support the Plumb Place as her philanthropic cause.
Patricia Roberts, Washington & Lee University, Division III
A recent graduate of Washington and Lee University, Patricia Roberts majored in psychology and studio art, earning a 3.49 GPA. Roberts was a Bonner Leader, which involves 900 hours of community service in a two-year period. She worked with Project Horizon, a domestic violence shelter in Lexington, answering phone calls on the hotline and counseling clients; Rockbridge Area Hospice, providing bereavement counseling for families, fund raising and assisting with patient care; Rockbridge Area Community Service Board, an after school program for socially “at-risk” children; and the Natural Bridge Juvenile Correction Center, where she designed and painted a mural in the gym. She has also volunteered with the Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Head Start, Nabors Service League and the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree. The tennis team captain, Roberts helped lead the team to a runner-up finish in the 2003 and 2005 Division III Tennis Championships and a fourth-place finish in 2004. Entering the 2006 season, she had posted a 25-5 career singles record and a 20-4 doubles record. She was named an Old Dominion Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete three times. Roberts was one of 12 semifinalists for the 2005-06 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, awarded by the Athletes for a Better World. She has chosen Project Horizon as her philanthropic cause.
Jenna Kreikemeier, College of St. Mary (Neb.), NAIA
An elementary and middle school education major at the College of St. Mary (Neb.), Jenna Kreikemeier will graduate in May 2007. She currently has a 3.70 GPA, is a member of the Dean’s List and an Academic All-American. A natural leader on and off the court, Kreikemeier was co-captain of the women’s basketball team and manager of the women’s volleyball team. She is active on many campus committees, including the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), SPARKS (the athletics outreach program), Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN), Campus Activities Board and the Residence Hall Council. SALT is a community outreach program to promote CSM athletics and the five core values of good character – Respect, Responsibility, Servant Leadership, Sportsmanship and Integrity. Kreikemeier spends at least five hours a week volunteering for Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research; Habitat for Humanity; Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister; Rainbow House, preparing and serving dinners; Student Educational Technology Association; youth reading; York Works Service Trips, cleaning underprivileged areas and educating local youth; and the 72nd Street Food Fight, an event where five businesses compete within the CSM community to collect the most food for a local homeless shelter. Additionally, she often assists with CSM’s free basketball clinics throughout the year. Kreikemeier was named to Who’s Who Among American College Students. Kreikemeier’s philanthropic causes are the West Point Central Catholic High School Endowment Fund and the College of Saint Mary’s athletics department.
Anthony Robinson, West Hills College, Junior/Community College
Anthony Robinson is a liberal arts major at West Hills College with a GPA of 2.39. West Hills College has a unique program where each football player is required to participate in a community outreach program to maintain eligibility. Not only did Robinson participate, he led the way and was a positive role model for the rest of his teammates in the area of leadership, commitment, trustworthiness and accountability. His help with the junior high after-school reading/physical education program at Huron Middle School not only helped the students succeed in the classroom and become more fit, but also gave them the opportunity to become aware of higher education. Robinson was also a volunteer for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Youth Camp, pre-school children’s recreation programs, youth football camps, a nursing facility, a harvest festival, a bicycle rodeo and senior citizen fitness classes where the youngest participant was 77. Robinson is a football and track athlete who at 17 received the prestigious “Golden Rule Award,” which recognizes his service to the community. In 2004 and 2005, he led WHC’s defense in tackles and in 2005 was named First-Team All-Conference. He was also an Honorable Mention selection to the All-State Team and was West Hill’s Most Valuable Player. Additionally, he was chosen as the FCA Athlete of the Year in 2004. Robinson’s philanthropic cause is the Virgie Jenneford Foundation.
