Coca-Cola Renews . . . the University of Alabama First Generation Scholars Program for Four Years With $1 Million Gift

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Coca-Cola Foundation renewed the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars program at The University of Alabama for another four years with a gift of $1 million. The gift brings Coca-Cola’s contribution to the First Generation Scholars program, begun in 2006, to $3 million. Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars, Coca-Cola Foundation representatives and UA administrators recently gathered on campus to celebrate the program’s eight year.The foundation announced the gift Thursday, April 10, at a luncheon honoring current and past First Generation Scholars at UA. The scholarship grants $5,000 a year for four years to 12 deserving students in each undergraduate class. The recipients are the first in their immediate families to attend college.

“The University of Alabama appreciates the generosity of the Coca-Cola Foundation and the impact these scholarships have on our first-generation students,” said President Judy Bonner. “Not only do these scholarships make a difference in the lives of our students, these students will make a lasting and positive difference in their communities for the rest of their lives.”

So far, four cohorts of Coca-Cola Scholars have graduated from UA, and another four cohorts are currently enrolled. Out of the 48 scholars who have completed the program, 22 have gone on to graduate or professional programs, three in Ph.D. programs, four to law school, 14 to master’s degree programs and one to medical school.

“Without the presence of the Coca-Cola First-Generation Scholarship at The University of Alabama over the past eight years, the student landscape here would be very, very different,” said Dianne Teague, coordinator of the First Generation Scholarships program. “We would not have had the rich influence of these driven and determined young people on this campus. We would not have known their gifts. We would not have heard their voices on this campus.”

UA was the first public institution to partner with The Coca-Cola Foundation’s First Generation Scholarship Program in 2006.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is experiencing significant growth in both enrollment and academic quality. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state’s economy, is in keeping with UA’s vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state’s flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.

• CONTACT: Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782, 205/394-3040
• SOURCE: Leslie Abernathy, Advancement, lbabernathy@advance.ua.edu, 205/348-4771

The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program has awarded more than $19 million in scholarships to support students who are the first in their immediate families to go to college. The program has reached more than 1,000 students at approximately 400 U.S. campuses. Interested students should contact the school they are planning to attend to ask whether aCoca-Cola First Generation Scholarship is in place, and if so, how to apply.

Generations of Coca-Cola Scholars are now leaders in a host of professions in government, law, education, financial services and health care.