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Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Essentials

Many thanks to the 113,000-plus 🤩 students across the country who applied to the #CokeScholars Program and to everyone who shared this scholarship opportunity! We look forward to emailing all applicants with an update later in October.

We are excited to announce our 2027 #CokeScholars Program Semifinalists - see the list at Cokeurl.com/2027SF! Out of 113,000+ applications submitted from across the country, 1,227 exceptional students have advanced to the next stage of our selection process. Representing just 1.08% of applicants, these young leaders have demonstrated outstanding academic excellence, leadership, and service in their schools and communities. We are grateful to The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola bottlers throughout the US for investing more than $93 million in the education of generations of changemakers through the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation since 1986. Next, Semifinalists will submit Phase 2 applications for review, after which 250 Finalists will be selected in January, followed by 150 Coca-Cola Scholars in February. Upon completion of Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, each Scholar will receive a $20,000 scholarship and join a lifelong community of visionary leaders. Congratulations, Semifinalists! #CokeScholarsSF

#CokeScholars, we're headed to the Northeast! If you live, work, or go to school near Boston, New Haven, Princeton, or Philadelphia, join us for a reception with your fellow Coke Scholars and CCSF staff. Even if you're just visiting or passing through, we'd love to see you! See details and register in Coke Scholars Connect or DM us for a link.

So happy to see more than 80 #CokeScholars between the two receptions we had in Washington, DC, this week! Grateful to Jim McGreevy, Meg Murphy, and the Coca-Cola DC team for hosting us at The Coca-Cola Company DC office year after year. ❤️ #CCSF40

There’s exactly ONE WEEKEND LEFT to apply for a $20,000 #CokeScholars college scholarship! Never fear — Vivian (@vxvxnly), a 2023 Coke Scholar, is here to break down how to start your application if you haven’t quite gotten to it yet. Apply at Cokeurl.com/ApplyNow or use the link in our bio by September 30th at 5pm Eastern!

“Impact” can feel big. Intimidating. Even unattainable. But usually, it starts small. It starts with showing up. Last weekend, Coke Scholars and alumni showed up in Asheville, North Carolina for the 2026 Service Summit, and turned something simple into something that made a difference. Scholars came from across the country (plus London!), many bringing their families along, kids included. They teamed up with incredible partners like Coca-Cola Consolidated, the Appalachian Service Project, CASE Consultants International, and the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance to support long-term recovery after Hurricane Helene. There were days spent rebuilding homes. Collecting data. Learning about what leadership looks like when things aren’t neat or predictable. What stuck wasn’t only the work itself. It was the in-between. Figuring things out together. Cheering someone on as they conquered a fear of power tools (safely, don’t worry). Reuniting with a friend first met on a Coke Scholars service trip nearly 20 years ago and picking right back up where you left off. Service is core to who Coke Scholars are. Still, we all get busy, and life gets in the way. It’s our privilege to help reconnect Scholars to this part of themselves, sending them home a little more grounded, refreshed, and inspired. (And possibly with a few blisters!) When a community like this comes together, you can see that impact isn’t a far-off, abstract idea. It grows out of moments like these, built through connection, effort, a shared purpose, and people choosing (again and again) to show up together. #CokeScholarsServe #CokeScholars #CCSF40

Oh YAAS CEO Ken May shared leadership lessons from Topgolf, FedEx Office, and more in our #CokeScholars C-Suite Connections virtual event this week. From his people first philosophy to his “no jerks” rule, it was an enlightening, informative, and candid conversation. Huge thanks to Ken for joining us and to LGPA Commissioner Craig Kessler (2003) for moderating the conversation in such a personal way - we loved hearing stories from his days working with Ken at Topgolf! First introduced at the 2023 Coke Scholars Leadership Summit, C-Suite Connections is a series by and for Coke Scholar executives that offers exclusive insights, engaging discussions, and high-impact networking opportunities. Learn more at the Coke Scholars Engagement Site linked in our bio. Can’t wait to see who we’ll learn from next! #CCSF40

#CokeScholars, join us online for Master Your Money tomorrow at 5pm Eastern! This virtual panel brings together finance and Coke Scholar Pros Jany Brown (1992), Sidney Baker (2005), Michaella Gallina (2006), and Will Schultz (1994) to answer your questions about taxes, budgeting, investing, and more. Register in Coke Scholars Connect or dm us for a link. See you there!

We’re excited to welcome four outstanding leaders to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Board of Directors: Jany Brown — 1992 Coke Scholar & SVP and Financial Advisor at UBS Financial Services Inc. Emma Corcoran — SVP, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability (PACS) for North America at The Coca-Cola Company Ben Johnston — SVP, People and Culture - Global Corporate Functions at The Coca-Cola Company Brad Spickert — President of Supply Chain & Customer Experience for North America at The Coca-Cola Company Together, they’ll help advance CCSF’s 40-year legacy of empowering visionary leaders who create positive change in their communities and around the world. 🗞️ Learn more at https://cokeurl.com/CCSFBoard or tap the link in our bio. — #CokeScholars • #CocaColaScholars • #CocaCola #BusinessNews • #Philanthropy

A pizza food truck, a candy buffet, ice-cold @cocacola, and our #CokeScholars — what could be better? Minneapolis, you spoiled us! 🍕🍬🥤 On Tuesday night, Will (1994) and Sarah Shultz welcomed us to their neighborhood and created the perfect space for local Scholars to reconnect. (And one not-so-local Scholar - Tasha Byers (2005) flew in from Chicago!) Grateful our friends from Viking Coca‑Cola and Reyes Coca‑Cola Bottling were also able to attend! Many thanks to Will and Sarah and to everyone who joined us! If this is what 40 looks like, we can’t wait for what’s ahead. ❤️ #CCSF40

We’re celebrating 2 big milestones – Coca‑Cola’s 140th birthday and 40 years of the Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation! 🎉 For 4 decades, we’ve believed in young leaders, invested in their potential, and built a community rooted in service, purpose, and possibility. Founded in 1986 by Coca‑Cola bottlers to honor the Company’s first 100 years, CCSF has grown into so much more than a scholarship. It’s a lifelong family of Scholars, alumni, partners, and supporters who show up for one another and open doors for what’s next. As we honor the past and invest in the future, we’re excited to launch our new engagement site for #CokeScholars and alumni – a central place to stay involved, support Scholars, and keep strengthening this incredible community. For those who are able, you can mark our 40th anniversary with a commemorative gift, honoring the Foundation’s impact and investing in what’s next. The links for both the engagement and giving sites are in our bio! This year, we welcomed the Coke Scholars Class of 2026 after our most competitive cycle ever – 107,000 students applied for 150 spots. To our newest Scholars, congratulations. We couldn’t be prouder for you to join this lifelong family. ❤️ Thank you to everyone who has helped shape CCSF across 4 decades. Cheers to 40 years of leadership, service, friendship, and opportunity – and to all that our Scholars will become. #CCSF40

🕰️ Let’s travel back in time to 1986, where our story began 40 years ago... 📼🛼📺🎞️👾🕹️☎️🎸💾 In 1986, Crawford Johnson III from @cocacolaunited and Coca-Cola bottlers from across the United States came together to create the scholarship as a gift – a gift to honor the first 100 years of The Coca-Cola Company. Instead of simply accepting the gift, Roberto Goizueta of @thecocacolaco asked to build this legacy together, and on May 8, 1986, they created the greatest partnership between @cocacola Bottlers and @thecocacolaco: the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. ✨ PS - Do you recognize that voice? It’s our own 2012 Scholar @weslijones! #CCSF40 #CokeScholars

On April 23, our Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet kicked off a celebration decades in the making – CCSF turning 40 on May 8th! The banquet was extra special, honoring 150 new #2026CokeScholars and the extended #CokeScholars family who have made four decades of impact possible. Our keynote speaker, journalist, author, and CEO @hodakotb, was completely captivating, sharing stories of grit, resilience, and searching for purpose. We also heard remarks from Coca-Cola system leaders and Scholars: • John Murphy, President & CFO of The Coca-Cola Company • Jane Hale Paulsen, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation • Kirk Tyler, CCSF Board Chair and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company Chairman • H.L. “Sandy” Williams, Chair of Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Group • Claude Nielsen, Chair of Coca-Cola UNITED • Natosha Reid Rice of Habitat for Humanity International & 1989 Scholar • Angela Harrell of Voya Financial & 1991 Scholar To close the evening, 2020 Scholar Christian Beck treated us to a fantastic musical performance! Together, we raised over $1,345,000 (see our amazing sponsors linked in our bio!) to support our 2026 Scholars Weekend and all our programmatic efforts rooted in providing scholarships and developing leaders. Thank you to all who joined us in Atlanta and virtually, and everyone who has been a part of our story since 1986. YOU have made 40 years of impact and a legacy of leaders possible. To our #2026CokeScholars, we are grateful for who you are, and so excited for all you will become. Welcome to the #CokeScholars family! #CCSF40

For Day 3, #2026CokeScholars @knight.bridges from Star, Mississippi, & @laurenkkim0 from Lexington, South Carolina, take us behind the scenes of the last day of #CokeScholars Weekend!

#CokeScholars Weekend Q&A with #2026CokeScholars Dom & Madelyn!

A Day in the Life of #CokeScholars: Day 1 of #2026CokeScholars Weekend with 2026 Scholar Dom Mimbang (aka @dominicmim) from Douglas, Georgia!

A Day in the Life of #CokeScholars: Day 1 of #2026CokeScholars Weekend with 2026 Scholar @_madelynjade from Fort Smith, Arkansas!

LDI — what is that?! @anita_kishore & @lorenzodaniel3 are showing us what the #CokeScholars Leadership Development Institute is all about! 30 Coke Scholar alums are here in Atlanta to facilitate this unique leadership experience for #2026CokeScholars throughout Scholars Weekend. ❓Questions? Let us know! ⬇️

#2026CokeScholars Weekend is HERE, and @_madelynjade & @dominicmim are taking you behind the scenes on Day 1! ❓Do you have a question about what it’s like being one of 150 #cokescholars in Atlanta for Scholars Weekend? Write it in the comments! ⬇️

3 months ago today, #CokeScholars and alumni began a weekend of service in Western North Carolina. The paint has dried. The projects have moved forward. The suitcases have long since been unpacked. (Maybe.) But the memories and lessons remain. ❤️ The 2026 Coke Scholars Service Summit gave us the opportunity to serve alongside organizations leading Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and to learn directly from local leaders working to strengthen their communities every day. Looking back, we’re grateful for the lasting impact of the experience, from renewed purpose and stronger connections to a deeper understanding of what service and leadership can accomplish together. Thank you to @cocacolaconsolidated, @appservproject, CASE Consultants International, Friends of Swannanoa, and @swannanoa_sga for your partnership and leadership, and to @claraeleonard for this video! #CokeScholars #CokeScholarsServe #LeadershipInAction #CommunityImpact

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3 months ago today, #CokeScholars and alumni began a weekend of service in Western North Carolina.