Scholarship Saturday: Coca-Cola Scholars

by Jessica Chen

Hey guys! Today I’ll be talking about the Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship, an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. As a 2017 Coke Scholar, I figured I could share my experience with you, and give a more personal and detailed recount of the scholarship application process.

First, some general details:

This scholarship is intended to recognize students for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars from around the country are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship. There are three rounds involved in the selection process:

Round 1: 1,914 Semifinalists selected from 85,000+ applicants

Due to the huge number of applicants, this first cut is completed with the help of a computer program, which means numbers play a large role. This round’s application consists of many quantitative answers, such as number of extracurriculars, AP/IB classes taken, and number of community service hours.

The application includes questions about:

• School Activities - Here, you select the number of each “type” of extracurricular that you participate in, such as “Academic/Honor Society”, “Music”, and “Athletics”
• Awards/Honors (from school activities) -  Including the grade and what level (regional, state, etc.) the award was won
• Community Service/Volunteer Activities - This section asks for the number of hours from every activity for each grade
• Community Service Groups, Clubs, and Organizations - You have the option of naming up to 3 community service activities.
• Awards/Honors (from community service)

Round 2: 250 Regional Finalists selected

This round has the most extensive application, with

• Advanced courses not reflected in your school records/transcript
• School-Related Activities - including the grade levels of participation, position(s) held, honors/awards won, and a brief statement of your impact on that club or organization
• Non-School-Related Activities - including the grade levels of participation, position(s) held, honors/awards won, and a brief statement of your impact on that club or organization
• Employment, Including Internships - including the name of the organization, the benefitting person or organization, hours committed, and whether the employment was during the summer or the academic year.
• Volunteer Activities - including the benefitting person or organization, dates and hours of service, and a brief statement of the impact of your service
• Three Essays - with the prompts:
• Why is service important to you and how has your service impacted your community (300 words max.)?
• What is your most fulfilling leadership experience? What did you learn about yourself and your leadership style (300 word max.)?
• Describe how these values shape your aspirations and/or vision for the future (300 words max.).

Round 3: 150 Coca Cola Scholars selected

To determine the final 150, this round involves an interview (either through Skype or in-person) with a group of CCSF staff and alumni. Those who aren’t selected as a Coke Scholar during this round are awarded a $1000 stipend.

The chosen 150 Scholars are invited to attend Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, with Airfare, meals, in-town transportation, and accommodations will be provided by the Foundation. There, they’ll be honored at the Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet at the Georgia International Convention Center, with more than 900 guests in attendance. The weekend also includes the Leadership Development Institute, which will challenge Scholars to develop an inside-out leadership philosophy based on self-awareness and empathy. Scholars Weekend is rounded out by tours of local landmarks in Atlanta, such as the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the World of Coca-Cola, seminars by alumni and staff, and a group community service project. There is also time allotted for fun bonding activities, such as a game show and a hospitality room with a fridge full of never-ending Coke products.

I just got back from Scholars Weekend (yesterday morning, actually!) and I can’t stress how rewarding it was. The Leadership Development Institute sessions were like a hybrid between therapy sessions and group bonding, and I left with a greater understanding of myself, my values, and the concept of leadership as a whole. It was also so cool to be surrounded by peers with accomplishments that both inspired and astounded me. The entire weekend pushed me out of my comfort zone (in a good way!), and I met so many funny, interesting, and nice people along the way.

To anyone looking at scholarships, I highly recommend applying for the Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship. It’s one of the few scholarships out there that’s completely merit-based, and the first round is relatively easy to submit with no essays at all. And if you have any nagging feelings of self-doubt, don’t worry — I felt the exact same way when I first thought of applying. Take a leap of faith and go for it — you never know what could happen!