Vestavia Hills, Ala.-, May 3, 2018 – Sarah Zhao, an exceptional senior at Vestavia Hills High School, has been recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca Cola Scholar’s Foundation. She has been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. As a member of the 30th class of Coca Cola Scholars, Zhao was selected from a pool of more than 150,000 applicants from across the country.

“Sarah Zhao is an extraordinary high school senior that has shown a steadfast commitment to educational excellence, leadership and service to her school and community,” said Bo Taylor, Vice President of Central Region for Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, headquartered in Birmingham. “Coca-Cola celebrates Sarah, and we are proud she is from our local community.”

Sarah is the founder and president of her school’s Biology Olympiad Club, the state of Alabama District 2 vice president for Future Business Leaders of America, and a senior ambassador. Away from school, Sarah has conducted cancer research and is the project leader in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology placing as a regional finalist in 2016 and a semifinalist in 2015.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across America and The Coca-Cola Company, is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States. The Foundation is supported by the financial commitment of Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, which was also influential in its start-up more than three decades ago. . The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation was established in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to bring better to the world through investment in exceptional high school students who are dedicated to leadership, service, and action that positively affects others.

The 2018 class of Coca-Cola Scholars included 150 high school students, selected from more than 150,000 applicants. Since its inception in 1986, the Foundation has awarded nearly 6,000 Coca Cola Scholars with a total of $65.5 million in scholarships. The Coca-Cola system believes that investing in students who are leaders, both academically and in service to others, will result in positive, lasting change and sustainable communities.

For a full list of 2018 Coca-Cola Scholars and their high schools, please visit:
http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/?p=5298
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