Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports over 1,400 college students each year, with annual scholarships of $3.45 million, through two nationally recognized programs. With the 25th class in 2013, the Foundation has provided over 5,250 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $51 million.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors each year. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, and their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.
Applicants must be:
-Current high school (or home-schooled) seniors attending school in the United States (or select DoD schools);
-U.S. Citizens; U.S. Nationals; U.S. Permanent Residents; Refugees; Asylees; Cuban-Haitian Entrants; or Humanitarian Parolees;
-Anticipating completion of high school diploma at the time of application;
-Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution;
-Carrying a minimum 3.00 GPA at the end of their junior year of high school.
CCSF awards funding through three scholarship programs each year:
Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship – High school seniors with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA may apply on our website in August of their senior year until the October 31 deadline.
Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team – Fifty Gold $1,500, fifty Silver $1,250, and fifty Bronze $1,000 scholarships. Current students at two-year community colleges may apply between October 1 and December 2. This scholarship is administered by Phi Theta Kappa, and application details can be found on their website, www.ptk.org.
Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise – 180 scholarships of $1,000. Current students at two-year community colleges may apply between February 27 and April 30. This scholarship is administered by Phi Theta Kappa, and application details can be found on their website, www.ptk.org.
How to apply for the Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship: An initial application becomes available on our website in August each year. If you are at that time high school senior with at least a 3.0 GPA, you may apply by completing the online application by the October 31 deadline. The application asks for you to list your grades, school and community activities, and employment, but no essays or additional materials are required. How can the scholarship be used? This scholarship is unique in that recipients have between 4-6 years to use their full award and may opt to defer all or part of the award within that 6 year time-frame. In addition to using funds for tuition at an accredited college or university, Scholars may also use their funds for other educational expenses, such as on-campus housing, a computer, and textbooks. For more information or to apply online visit the scholarship website: http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/applicants/#programs
