UA Recognizes Coca-Cola Scholars at Luncheon

Note: Media may attend the luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the North End Zone of Bryant Denny Stadium. Contact Richard LeComte at rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, or 205/348-3782 or UA media relations, 205/348-5320, for details.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — The University of Alabama has welcomed the 11^th cohort of  Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars to campus.

The 12 students will be honored at a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the North Zone at Bryant Denny Stadium. Representatives of the Coca-Cola Foundation will attend, along with students who are members of previous cohorts.

The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program was established at UA in 2006. Since then, the Coca-Cola Foundation has donated $3 million to support first-generation scholars at UA. The scholarship provides $5,000 a year, renewable for four years, provided that recipients maintain a 3.0 GPA. The program also provides a strong support structure for the scholars.

Since 2006, the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program boasts a freshman-to-sophomore retention rate of 100 percent and a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. Graduates of the program have gone on to medical school, law school and graduate school and have found employment in their chosen fields.

Each year, scholars participate in individual meetings with the program coordinator, attend cultural and academic enrichment activities and participate in service projects.

Members of the 11th cohort of the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars cohorts are:

Student                                    Hometown