Coca-Cola Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Coca-Cola

Description The Coca‑Cola Scholars Program is an achievement-based scholarship recognizing high school seniors for leadership, service, and sustained impact in their schools and communities. It targets students in their final year of secondary education who demonstrate a record of positive contribution and potential for future leadership. Selection emphasizes character and community involvement rather than financial need. The program culminates in the selection of a national cohort of scholars each year. Key takeaways: - Award honors leadership, service, and community impact. - Intended for students in their final year of high school. - Selection focuses on achievement and character, not need. - Scholars join a national cohort and alumni network. Eligibility Bold — Who is eligible: Applicants must be enrolled in high school or be homeschooled and attending school in one of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or select Department of Defense (DoD) schools; they must be slated to graduate in the current academic year. Eligible applicants include U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Permanent Residents, Refugees, Asylees, Cuban‑Haitian Entrants, and Humanitarian Parolees per U.S. Department of Education guidance. Applicants must intend to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post‑secondary institution and be able to verify at least a B/3.0 cumulative high school GPA. Bold — Who is not eligible: Certain relationships to Coca‑Cola staff and specific residency statuses make applicants ineligible. The program excludes children or grandchildren of current Coca‑Cola employees or owners, and children or grandchildren of former employees who are receiving retirement benefits tied to Coca‑Cola employment. International students (except those at qualifying DoD schools), applicants who have already graduated high school, and temporary residents are also ineligible. Key takeaways: - Must be graduating high school in the current academic year. - Acceptable citizenship/status categories mirror federal financial aid eligibility. - Minimum overall GPA requirement: B / 3.0. - Several family‑employment and residency exclusions apply. Award Value The Coca‑Cola Scholars Program awards a cash scholarship to each selected scholar to support undergraduate study at a U.S. institution. Each selected scholar receives $20,000. The program selects a fixed number of scholars annually, forming the national cohort that receives these awards. Key takeaways: - Individual award amount: $20,000 per scholar. - Scholarship supports undergraduate study at accredited U.S. institutions. - Awards are granted to a set cohort of scholars each year. Application Timeline The program follows an annual schedule with a defined application window and subsequent notification phases. The Phase 1 online application typically opens on August 3 and closes on September 30 each year. After the initial window, applicants receive status notifications; subsequent application components and interviews follow according to the program’s annual calendar. For planning purposes, the next application cycle for students graduating in the 2026–2027 academic year opens August 3, 2026. Key takeaways: - Phase 1 application window generally: August 3 – September 30. - Applicants are notified of status after the Phase 1 window closes. - Subsequent rounds (if advanced) have additional deadlines and interview windows. - Next undergraduate‑entry cycle opens August 3, 2026 (for 2026–2027 graduates). Selection Process The selection process is multi‑phased, narrowing a national applicant pool to the final cohort through progressive review and evaluation. Phase 1 is an initial online application that requires no essays, transcripts, or recommendations and serves to determine basic eligibility. A small percentage of applicants are advanced as Semifinalists and submit a Phase 2 application with essays, transcripts, and a recommendation. From the Semifinalist group, Regional Finalists are invited to interview; a final group of scholars is then chosen and invited to an in‑person Scholars Weekend to confirm selection. Key takeaways: - Multi‑stage process: initial application → semifinalist application → finalist interviews → scholars selected. - Phase 1 requires only basic information; no essays or supporting documents. - Semifinalists complete essays, provide transcripts, and submit a recommendation. - Final selection includes interviews and an in‑person Scholars Weekend for the chosen cohort. History of the Award The Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation was established in 1986 to invest in the next generation of leaders by awarding scholarships each year. Over its multi‑decade history the program has grown into a national scholarship with a sustained alumni network. As it reached its 40th anniversary, the program marked a significant cumulative impact in the number of scholars supported and total scholarship dollars awarded. Those long‑term outcomes reflect the foundation’s sustained commitment to leadership and community service. Key takeaways: - Founded in 1986 to support student leadership and service. - Marked its 40th anniversary milestone in the mid‑2020s. - Celebrated cumulative impact across thousands of scholars and tens of millions in awards.