Skip to content

Coca-Cola Bottlers Celebrate Local Scholars

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation (CCSF), one of the greatest partnerships between Coca-Cola Bottlers and The Coca-Cola Company, designated the 33rd class of Coca-Cola Scholars in March.  Together with the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Association, CCSF is proud to acknowledge the special ways that the Bottling community has celebrated scholarship winners from their respective markets throughout the year. 

From surprising a Scholar in person with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear and a giant check, to hosting fun virtual gatherings with a Bottler’s leadership, to hosting local Scholars at a major sporting event or sending custom care packages, Coca-Cola Bottlers created unique moments that will last a lifetime for this special group of young people and everyone who participates in the program.

The photos and highlights are almost endless!


Before the 150 winners were notified, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Coca-Cola United, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, and surprised students in their territories with the news they had received the $20,000 college scholarship. The special moments were captured on video and shown during the virtual Coca-Cola Scholars Celebration in April.

Coca-Cola Consolidated surprises KaLa Keaton with a Coke Scholars “signing day” at Middle Creek High School in Apex, NC, as she learns she has been named one of 150 Coca-Cola Scholars across the country.
Mark Francoeur, President of Coca-Cola Northeast Beverages, shocked Brittany Torro at Market Basket, a Massachusetts grocery store where Brittany worked at the customer service desk, with the news she had won the $20,000 college scholarship.
Jean Claude Tissot, President of Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, gives Da’Vion Tatum a tour of their new bottling facility in Houston, TX, and shares the news that he is a 2021 Coke Scholar.
Crawford J. Jones of Coca-Cola UNITED congratulated Ria Shah on becoming a Coca-Cola Scholar in the courtyard of Hoover High School in Hoover, AL, with a Coca-Cola truck and banner.
Bill O’Brien, CEO of Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, drove up in a Coca-Cola truck while Nick Simpson was at volleyball practice at Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, CA, surprising him with the news he had received CCSF’s $20,000 scholarship.

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages celebrated 2021 Scholar Amy Liu at Central Bucks High School South in Warrington, Ohio, on Senior Day, surprising her and the senior class with Rocky the Polar Bear and AHA beverages.

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages surprised Amy Liu and students at Central Bucks High School.

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company hosted virtual events with their respective CEOs for the 2021 Coca-Cola Scholars in their territories and posted photos on social media.

“These extraordinary students were selected from more than 99,000+ applicants. We are proud to celebrate this tremendous achievement and welcome them to the Coca-Cola family,” Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company wrote on Instagram.

“We are proud to support #education and excited to celebrate this significant achievement with these students!” Coca-Cola Beverages Florida posted.


Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast hosted local Scholars at a Red Sox game with their CEO, Mark Francoeur, and to welcome Scholars to campus, Coca-Cola Consolidated sent care packages full of Coca-Cola merchandise to their 2021 Scholars.


It is fascinating and gratifying to see how Coca-Cola Bottlers create such special events that are unique to their territories, Scholars, and create lasting memories for everyone who participate. Thank you!!

Did you celebrate your Scholars and we missed it? We want to add you! Email laurenobrien@coca-coladotcom.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world thanks to the funding of local Coca-Cola Bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company. With its 33rd class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the Foundation has provided more than $75 million in scholarships to over 6,450 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more at www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.