The Coca-Cola Foundation has made a gift of $1 million to UGA to expand its Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program. The program will assist students who are the first in their families to attend college.
Since its inception, more than $10 million in scholarships have been awarded to more than 1,000 students on approximately 400 campuses across the nation and in China.
Under the First Generation program, incoming UGA freshmen will be awarded $5,000 annual scholarships that are renewable for four years. Twelve students will receive the first group of scholarships in fall, with 12 scholarships available in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, 14 students will receive the scholarships. Altogether, 50 students will each receive $20,000 in scholarship awards over the next seven years.
To be considered for the scholarship, a student must be a resident of Georgia, demonstrate financial need, have a strong academic record and be the first in their family to attend college.
Recipients must enroll as full-time students and maintain at least a 2.8 grade point average thereafter.
“The Coca-Cola Foundation is proud to help students who are the first in their families to attend college,” said Ingrid Saunders Jones, chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “We created the First Generation Scholarship program in 1993 in recognition of the dreams of so many aspiring students and families in our communities.”
“The University of Georgia is pleased to be able to help these talented and promising young Georgians for whom a college degree will be the key to a future of success,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “We are grateful to The Coca-Cola Foundation for its commitment to build a stronger Georgia through investment in education.”
“The scholarships, together with freshman orientation and mentoring, will assist students in making the successful transition to college and will significantly improve their lives and contributions to Georgia and society,” added Provost Arnett C. Mace Jr.
The Coca-Cola Foundation’s mission is to support initiatives that build sustainable communities. In North America, the Foundation’s priorities include fitness and active lifestyles, education, water stewardship and recycling.
Over the past 10 years, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $171 million to communities around the globe.