14-02-2025
Moline High student named regional finalist in Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Andrew Grau, a student at Moline High School, has been named a regional finalist for the 2025 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, according to a news release.
Grau is among 250 high school seniors selected as regional finalists from a pool of 105,000+ applications from across the country based on their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated in school and community activities. Less than a quarter of 1% of applicants made it to this point of selection.
The regional finalists are in the running for 150 college scholarships worth $20,000. This is the second stage of a three-stage selection process for the scholarship.
Grau will move to the next round of the selection process to become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship.
'Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling is proud to support the communities in which we live and work,' said Rob Feeney, CEO of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling. 'Each one of the students who advanced to this level are exceptional, and we wish them the best as they move forward in the process.'
A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. With the addition of the 2025 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 7,050 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $87 million in scholarships over the course of 37 years.
Andrew Grau was among 1,337 semifinalists who were selected from over 105,000 initial applicants and is now one of just 250 students who have moved to the final selection phase, regional interviews. After these interviews are conducted in February, 150 of the regional finalists will be designated as Coca-Cola Scholars-select and attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta April 3-6, 2025, where they will be the guests of honor at the 37th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet and participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.
Collectively, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will award $3.1 million in college scholarships to these outstanding young leaders.
'We believe that identifying these young leaders throughout the country and encouraging their passion for serving others not only empowers the students, but also lifts up those around them.' said Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the foundation. 'The Coca-Cola system is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve, and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is proud to be a part of that commitment.'
In addition to receiving college scholarships, those students selected as Coca-Cola Scholars will be welcomed into a vibrant and growing community of alumni that has become a powerful force for positive change in the world. Through networking, collaborations, and friendships, the group strives to make a greater impact together. Recent initiatives include a podcast called The SIP (The Coke Scholars Ignite Podcast) and the ninth year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college. Every five years, all alumni are invited to a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. With its 36th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the foundation has provided more than $84 million in scholarships to over 6,900 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more here.
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