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RIDGELAND — Holmes Community College student Mika Maehata of Jackson has been named a member of the prestigious 2026 All-USA Academic Team and selected as a 2026 New Century Transfer Scholar, earning a combined $5,750 in scholarships.
Maehata was selected to the All-USA Academic Team from more than 2,300 nominees nationwide and will receive a $3,000 scholarship. She also was named Mississippi’s 2026 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,750 scholarship. Only one New Century Transfer Scholar is selected from each state.
A biological engineering major on the Ridgeland Campus, Maehata plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering while participating in the Thrive in Five program toward earning a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. She is the daughter of Nami and Kousaku Maehata.
Maehata was recognized for her academic achievement, leadership and campus and community engagement. During her time at Holmes, she has earned President’s List honors and received the Board of Trustees ACT Scholarship and STEM Award. She serves as an officer of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, as well, and was inducted into the 2026 Holmes Hall of Fame.
The All-USA Academic Team is among the nation’s premier academic honors for students pursuing an associate degree. Each college may nominate two students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership and citizenship, as well as a commitment to using their community college experience to better themselves and their communities. Maehata will be recognized during the American Association of Community Colleges annual convention in Seattle in April.
“The All-USA program is a prestigious recognition of a student’s exceptional abilities both in and outside of the classroom,” Amanda Karpinski-Gorman, director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, said. “These students are selected for their resilience, creativity and ingenuity in tackling global and local challenges. We are incredibly proud of the individuals named to the 2026 team and eagerly anticipate the continued impact they will make.”
New Century Transfer Scholars are selected based on academic accomplishments, leadership, activities and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa.
“We congratulate Mika for receiving this prestigious scholarship, and we are honored to partner with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation to recognize these outstanding achievements,” said Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for two-year college students to succeed and for putting college completion within reach.”
Maehata will be recognized as a New Century Transfer Scholar at Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 26-28.
For more information about the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship Program, visit https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/all-usa-academic-team-scholarship/.
To learn more about the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, visit https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/.
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