Top Florida Young Leaders Awarded $120,000 in College Scholarships from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) recognizes six exceptional Florida students named 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars who have been awarded $20,000 college scholarships by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated within their communities.

This year marks the 35^th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, which includes 150 high school seniors across the country, receiving, collectively, $3.1 million in scholarships. Financial contributions from The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola bottlers including Coke Florida, and other corporate sponsors support the achievement-based program.

Education is a core area of focus for Coke Florida, the local Coca-Cola bottler headquartered in Tampa and serving over 21 million consumers annually across 47 Florida counties. The prestigious Coca-Cola Scholars program is open to all high school seniors across the state of Florida.

Coke Florida congratulates the Florida class of 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars: Sahil Bhandary of Wellington, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of The Arts; Sarah Dufays of Davie, American Heritage School Plantation; Luke Freed of Cooper City, American Heritage School Plantation; Sara Kaufman of Cooper City, North Broward Preparatory School; Sharvaa Selvan of Weston, American Heritage School Plantation; and Tejas Raxwal of Tampa, Carrollwood Day School.

“To be selected as a Coca-Cola Scholar finalist out of a pool of 91,000 applicants is a tremendous scholastic and personal achievement for these young people,” said Percy L. Wells, II, Group Vice President of Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Communications at Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. “The Coke Florida family could not be prouder of this year’s class of Coca-Cola Scholars. They represent some of the brightest students across the state of Florida - we are delighted to contribute to their educational endeavors in this way. These Scholars are truly the change agents of tomorrow.”

In April, the Class of 2023 Scholars attended Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, the first in-person celebration held by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation since the COVID-19 pandemic. Scholars Weekend is an annual tradition that introduces and reignites the network of scholars and is filled with celebration and development activities such as the Scholars Banquet, a Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni, and a community service project.

“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 those around them,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars 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.”

The Coca-Cola Scholars alumni network is rich in legacy and now includes 6,750 Coke Scholars nationwide. To date, the Coca-Cola system’s investment in college scholarships over 35 years exceeds $81 million.

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is a family-owned Coca-Cola bottler. Coke Florida has an exclusive sales and distribution territory that covers over 21 million consumers across 47 Florida counties and includes the major metropolitan markets of Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Coke Florida manufactures, sells, distributes, and merchandises a diverse portfolio of over 600 products of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies including Monster Energy. Coke Florida is the third largest privately held, the sixth largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States, and one of the largest minority-owned businesses in Florida. Coke Florida was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. To learn more, visit www.cocacolaflorida.com.