Cybersecurity student named Coca-Cola Academic Team Member

From HSED to national academic honors: Sturgeon Bay resident reflects on NWTC journey

Jennifer Bacon, a Northeast Wisconsin Technical College student in the Cybersecurity associate degree program, has been named a member of the 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team and will receive a $1,300 scholarship. 

The Sturgeon Bay resident is on track to graduate from NWTC next month. She plans to transfer to Western Governors University in fall 2026 to earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and information assurance, before eventually pursuing a master’s in threat analysis. Her long‑term goal is to build a career in cybersecurity with a focus on threat intelligence and digital forensics.

“I am especially passionate about helping communities understand cyber risks and developing accessible cybersecurity education resources,” said Bacon. She is already leveraging her NWTC education, currently developing a community‑focused cybersecurity education initiative aimed at helping small businesses and residents better recognize and prevent common online threats.

Bacon has maintained a 4.0 GPA at NWTC and is an active member of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. In addition to being a Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholar, she has been named to the PTK All‑Wisconsin Academic Team, nominated for the PTK All‑USA Academic Team, and has received the NWTC STAR Award. 

She encourages other students to take full advantage of the opportunities PTK provides, noting that she wishes she had accepted her invitation sooner because of the support, confidence, and opportunities PTK has provided.

“I am still pinching myself and am very humbled by the recognitions – I often reflect on how far I have come,” said Bacon, who started at NWTC as a student in the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) program.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service. 

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Paulsen, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s global community leaders.”

Coca-Cola Academic Team members received commemorative medallions and were recognized in local, statewide, and international ceremonies. 

'Thank you for changing my life'

Just weeks from earning her NWTC associate degree, Bacon has been looking back at her journey. 

A couple of years after completing her HSED through NWTC Sturgeon Bay, she returned – with college as her goal. 

“Even though I had earned my HSED through NWTC, coming back with the intention of pursuing a degree felt overwhelming,” said Bacon. “The kindness and support I received during my HSED experience gave me the first nudge to consider that maybe college was something I could try.”

She recalls the moment she walked back through the doors of the Sturgeon Bay campus feeling unsure and nervous – before meeting a supportive staff member in the Welcome Center.

“Her warmth, patience, and encouragement made an immediate impact,” Bacon said. “She guided me through every step — and remained a steady source of encouragement as I transitioned to the Cybersecurity program on the Green Bay campus. I know I asked a lot of questions, but I never once felt like a burden.”

“Without the warm welcome and supportive environment that the Sturgeon Bay staff created, I do not think I would have followed through,” she added. “I might have walked back out those doors and never attempted college again. Instead, I stayed — and everything changed.”

Bacon’s academic journey has also included navigating breast cancer treatment – an experience that reinforced her belief that “persistence and determination can carry you through even the most difficult circumstances.”

Reflecting on how far she’s come in the last few years, she recently reached out to NWTC Sturgeon Bay with this heartfelt message:

“None of this would have been possible without the foundation you helped me build. I am forever grateful for the kindness, patience, and encouragement you showed me from the very beginning. Thank you for changing my life.”