POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College student Lela Flowers was not sure how she was going to pay for college this year if she had not won the 2015 PRCC Tuition Giveaway contest.
“Money these days is very hard to come by, and with a disabled father on dialysis and part-time working mother, who is the only person paying for my schooling, this tuition would not only be a miracle for us, but it’ll also help reach our family goal and make history,” said Flowers.
“I will be the first college graduate in my immediate family.”
Flowers, who wants to be a physical therapist, was recently selected as the winner of the fifth annual Tuition Giveaway contest, a promotion PRCC held in conjunction with Hattiesburg Coca-Cola United and radio stations SL-100 and Wild 106.3.
Live radio promotions, featuring free soft drinks and t-shirts, were held to advertise the contest in Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Petal, Purvis, Sumrall, Columbia, Lumberton and Poplarville.
Contestants had to tell their story through online submissions.
“I will use this opportunity as a head start to boost my career and I won’t abuse nor tarnish my opportunity to be great,” said Flowers.
“I am a firm believer that everyone is destined for greatness; we all just need that one opportunity to launch at it. This would be my opportunity to help excel my path to be great and set a good example for all the ones that look up to me and show them that they too can earn a degree and be just as great, if not better.”
The Tuition Giveaway contest has grown in popularity each year.
“We had many student applicants who have had to overcome challenges and adversities,” said Chuck Abadie, public relations director at PRCC. “We have more and more submissions each year. Picking a winner was very difficult.”
Flowers, the daughter of Paul and Alice Flowers of Columbia, has two sisters and one brother. She will be attending PRCC on the Poplarville campus.
Russ Hendley, sales center manager for Hattiesburg Coca-Cola United, said he was thrilled with Flowers’ selection.
“Hattiesburg Coca-Cola United, a proud supporter through the years of the rich traditions of Pearl River Community College in athletics, academics and the arts, would like to congratulate Lela Flowers. It’s always great to Share a Coke and the good times with our friends at PRCC.”
POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College student Lela Flowers of Columbia was selected as the winner of the fifth annual PRCC Tuition Giveaway contest, a promotion PRCC held in conjunction with Hattiesburg Coca-Cola and radio stations SL-100 and Wild 106.3. Pictured at the awards ceremony are from left: Russ Hendley and Russell Boltz of Hattiesburg Coca-Cola, WILD 106.3 radio personality Big Daddy, Tuition Contest winner Lela Flowers, SL-100 radio personality Sherri Marengo, and PRCC President William Lewis. PRCC Public Relations photo
