Twelve freshmen who are the first in their families to attend college have been named recipients of the inaugural Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship at UGA.
The students will receive the $5,000 scholarship for their first year at UGA and will continue to receive it for three more years provided they meet academic
requirements.
The Coca-Cola Foundation awarded UGA $1 million this year to start the First Generation Scholarship program, which assists students who are the first in their families to attend college. Since its inception, the program has provided more than $10 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students on almost 400 campuses across the country and in 52 universities in China.
The $1 million gift also will provide scholarships to groups of 12 UGA freshmen in 2008 and 2009, and to 14 freshmen in 2010. Altogether, 50 students will receive $20,000 each in scholarship awards over the next seven years.
Recipients must be full-time students who have a strong high school academic record and demonstrated financial need. To renew the scholarship, they must maintain a minimum 2.8 grade point average in their freshman year and at least a 3.0 average for the next three years.
“This year’s recipients have enrolled together this fall in a first-year seminar,” said Jere Morehead, vice president for instruction. Other special programming, including a recognition luncheon, is scheduled for the first class of scholars.
The names, hometowns and anticipated majors of UGA’s first group of recipients are: Geralee D. Corona, Snellville, criminal justice; Edward A. Lilla, Jasper, biochemistry and molecular biology; Cathy T. Nguyen, Lawrenceville, art; Linh P.P. Nguyen, Lilburn, pre-law; Ricky P. Patel, Norcross, biology; Cortney L. Ralston, Ellijay, biochemistry and molecular biology; Cara E. Russell, Rossville, pre-journalism; Sarah A. Thorne, Canon, music; Jessica L. Tucker, Dallas, pre-business; Megan L. Aunchman, Buford, biological sciences; Shital K. Lad, Acworth, biology; and Kayla M. Sullivan, undecided.
