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If you're looking into scholarship programs to help pay for your college education, the famous Coca-Cola scholarships are a good place to start. Why are they famous? Well, the Coca-Cola foundation offers some of the most generous awards out there to graduating high school seniors. They tend to be very competitive, so if you want a shot at the scholarship, you should learn as much about them as you possibly can.

In this post, I'll talk about some of the logistical concerns you might have about the scholarship— things like deadlines and eligibility requirements. But more importantly, I'll also offer helpful tips and strategies to give your application the boost it needs. Read on to optimize your chances of winning one of these competitive scholarships!

What Is the Coca-Cola Scholarship?

There are a few different types of Coca-Cola scholarships, but the one you'll likely be most interested in is called the Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship . This scholarship is a merit-based award given to graduating high school seniors who are enrolling in college.

Each year since 1989, 150 high school seniors per year have received $20,000 through this award program. If you've looked into other scholarship programs, you might recognize that the Coca-Cola Scholars award amount is pretty generous. $20,000 can cover a significant portion of your cost of attendance!

As you might expect, the scholarship is pretty competitive: the top five colleges that scholarship recipients attend are Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Yale, and Princeton . Applicants are evaluated on leadership, academics, and service. Many scholarship recipients also demonstrate a passion for social justice.

How Do You Know If You're Eligible?

In order to qualify for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship, you must meet all of the following requirements :

• Be a current high school senior attending school in the US
• Be a US citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, or humanitarian parolee
• Anticipate receiving your high school diploma during the current academic year
• Plan on attending an accredited US post-secondary institution (two- or four-year college)
• Able to show proof of a minimum overall B/3.0 GPA in high school courses
• Cannot be a child/grandchild of any employee, officer, or owner of Coca-Cola bottling companies, the Coca-Cola company, Company divisions or subsidiaries

If you meet all of the above criteria, you're on the right track to submitting a successful Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship application.

What Information Do You Need to Apply?

The next step to submitting a successful application would be to gather all necessary materials and information ahead of time. You'll need all of the following to complete an application :

• Your high school transcript and academic record —You'll need this to report courses and grades starting with your freshman year.
• Contact information —You will need to provide the names, emails, and phone numbers of your guidance counselor and principal.
• School activities: student council, class officer, academic/honor societies, school newspaper or literary magazine, school yearbook
• Performing arts: drama, theater, dance
• Speech, debate, or forensics
• Music: band, orchestra, vocal
• Visual arts
• Other: any school-related clubs, organizations, or intramurals
• List of honors and awards —You'll have to list any accolades you've received while participating in any clubs or organizations, and the level of each award (local, state, regional, or national) since your freshman year.
• List of volunteer activities —You'll be asked about all of your unpaid community service activities for each grade in high school. Be prepared to provide the number of hours you spent in each activity in addition to any honors or awards you received for your participation.
• List of paid work experiences —If you have an updated resume, you're already set! Be prepared to provide the number of weeks employed, average number of hours worked per week during the school year, and average number of hours worked during the summer for each job.

Because this isn't a need-based scholarship, y ou won't have to worry about submitting any financial information . You also don't need to worry about reporting any standardized test scores!

How Do You Submit a Coca-Cola Scholarship Application?

You have nothing to lose by submitting an application. Even if you're worried you won't receive an award because the scholarship is so competitive, think about how a few hours of your time could lead to a $20,000 scholarship. It's a no-brainer!

The application window typically opens in early August and closes in late October. This year's application period is from August 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022.

Click through to find the appropriate link to the scholarship here . You can also check out a full sample application before submitting your own app.

You'll have a lot more fun this upcoming Halloween if you submit your application in advance of the deadline.

When Do You Find Out Whether You've Been Selected?

There are several stages to the scholarship recipient selection process. First, about 2,000 semi-finalists will be selected by mid-November. If you make it to this stage, you'll be asked to submit additional scholarship materials by late December. These materials will include essays, a recommendation, and a current high school transcript.

A program committee then reviews semi-finalist applications in January to narrow it down to 250 regional finalists by the end of the month. Regional finalist interviews (over the phone or via Skype) take place in February.

The scholarship winners are finally selected and notified after regional interviews . Scholarship recipients are invited to participate in a Scholars Weekend in Atlanta at the end of March or early April.

How Can You Use the Scholarship Funds?

If you win a Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship, you can use it for any school-related expenses, including tuition, on-campus housing, books, fees, or even a computer .

The scholarship is pretty flexible. You have between four and 10 years to use the full award amount and can choose to defer the award anytime within that 10-year time frame (like if you want to take a gap year or study abroad).

Strategies: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship

According to the Coca-Cola Scholars program , scholarship recipients are strong leaders who are committed to "making a significant impact on their schools and communities."

The most successful applications will embody the values that the Coca-Cola Scholars program prioritizes: leadership, service, and community commitment. Ultimately, scholarship awards are investments not only in a particular student but also in that student's community.

Scholarships will have the greatest impact when they're awarded to students who are invested in "paying it forward," or giving back to others . Corporate scholarships assume that the most successful students and professionals will demonstrate very strong leadership skills and academic potential.

The following strategies will help you highlight the qualities that make you most attractive to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

If You're a Younger High School Student ...

Demonstrate academic excellence.

You probably noticed earlier in this post that Coca-Cola scholarship winners tend to be going to some pretty great schools. Corporate scholarship programs like this one want to invest in students who show the most promise and potential.

One way you can demonstrate your own potential is to earn exceptional grades — this will obviously serve you well when it comes to applying to colleges and other scholarship programs.

In addition, take AP or advanced classes if they're offered . You'll be a more impressive applicant if your academic record shows a more rigorous course load. Unfortunately, the more challenging the courses, the more difficulty you may have in school. While this is okay (your grades don't have to be perfect!), make sure to seek out extra help in weaker subject areas . Meet with your teachers or tutors to stay on top of your game.

Develop Leadership Skills

Leadership roles will help you stand out, in a good way.

As with academic performance, leadership skills development indicates that you're likely to be successful as a student and as a professional. If you actively seek out leadership roles, this will demonstrate to the Coca-Cola Scholarship Program that you're proactive and take initiative.

Commit to clubs, groups, or activities early on that align well with your interests and passions . It's generally better to be heavily invested in a few activities. If you make too many commitments, the caliber of your participation (and the opportunities for future leadership roles) will suffer. Focus on quality over quantity .

Here's an example of what I mean: as a kid, I attended one particular camp every summer. It was something I really enjoyed, and it was great to go back year after year. When I aged out of the camp, I was given the opportunity to participate in the program as a camp counselor— I got to continue doing something I loved because I had shown that I was committed to it long-term, and I was "promoted" to a new and exciting leadership position . I likely wouldn't have gotten the position of camp counselor so easily if I hadn't already spent years at the camp.

You can also demonstrate leadership and initiative in more creative ways. For example:

• Spend more time in your community service activities than is required of you. The scholarship evaluators will know if you need to volunteer a minimum number of hours to graduate, and they won't be impressed if you barely meet that minimum. Going above and beyond any required minimums demonstrates true initiative and a strong commitment to your community (qualities that will make you really stand out as an applicant).
• Actively seek out awards and honors, especially for your community service activities. You'll have to provide a list of accolades and honors for your scholarship application—if you're already dedicated to service, it's worth your time to seek out opportunities for acknowledgment. Check with your school guidance counselor or do a Google search for awards in your area.

If You're Ready to Apply for the Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship ...

Keep coca-cola scholars values in mind as you fill out your application.

Remember that successful applicants are students who not only excel academically but are also involved in their school communities. Through participation in classes and extracurriculars, scholarship winners show that they are passionate and service-oriented .

Embrace the Lack of First-Round Essays

Unlike many scholarship applications, the Coca Cola Scholars application doesn’t require any essays in the first-round of the application process. Any application for which you don't have to write an essay must be an easy application, right? In reality, the Coca-Cola Scholarship application is trickier than most because it doesn't give you a chance to explain either your academic performance or your participation in extracurriculars.

Essentially, you can't talk about your passions, well-roundedness, intelligence, or commitment to service to make yourself stand out from the thousands of other first-round applicants. The only thing you can do is show—through your grades and your participation in various activities— how you embody the qualities that the Coca-Cola Scholarship values in its award recipients .

You'll notice on the sample application that questions about leadership roles come before any questions about your grades; clearly, they're a very important part of the application. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to talk up your community commitments or leadership experiences if you don't have a well-developed resume; the application is pretty cut and dry.

Of course, if you make it to the second round of the application process, you’ll get to explain why you’re a great fit for a Coca Cola scholarship in some required essays. To stand out in the essay-free first round, though, make sure that your resume is comprehensive. Make a list of every single activity, event, club, and organization you've ever been a part of and consider whether you could count it as some sort of leadership or community service experience.

Scour your brain—don't leave anything out! Remember that camp I was discussing earlier? I didn't think to consider it as volunteer work or community service—I had done it for years and considered it a privilege to work as a counselor. Luckily, someone less naive than me hinted that I should include it on my resume under "Volunteer Experience."

Submit a Polished Finished Product

Have someone you trust—a teacher or guidance counselor, for example—look over your application before you submit it to make sure it's as polished as possible. Your reader might have suggestions on additional things you should include (or leave out).

What's Next?

On a mission to find other opportunities scholarship funding? You're in the right place! Check out our strategy guides to getting the Tylenol , Gates Millennium , Walmart, and McDonald's scholarships.

There are tons of scholarships out there! If you need help looking for more, take a look at our expert guide to finding scholarships for college. 

Want to improve your application strength for this scholarship and for college? You can raise your GPA , take a rigorous course load , and improve your SAT/ACT score .

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

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How to Win the Coca-Cola Scholarship

What is the coca-cola scholarship.

The Coca-Cola scholarship is a $20,000 scholarship awarded to 150 exceptional high school seniors that provides them with a unique and exclusive alumni network. It is one of the more prestigious scholarships for high school students and has a rigorous admission process. In their own words, the scholarship is for students “who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership.” The top five colleges Coke scholars attend are Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Yale, and Princeton.

In 2023 the Coca-Cola scholarship had around 91,000 applicants. Each year, the applicants are whittled down to 2,000 semifinalists. After a secondary application process, these semifinalists are reduced even further to 250 regional finalists. Finally, after an interview process, 150 Coke scholars are chosen in March. To get an idea of just how competitive the scholarship is, in the 2023 cycle, less than 1/6 of 1% of applicants were chosen. As a 2020 Coke Scholar, I can offer some tips on how to maximize your chances of winning this prestigious, but competitive award.

Eligibility requirements:

• Be a current high school senior attending school in the US
• Be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident
• Anticipate receiving your high school diploma
• Plan on attending an accredited US post-secondary institution (two- or four-year college)
• Cannot be a child/grandchild of any employee, officer, or owner of Coca-Cola bottling companies, the Coca-Cola company, Company divisions, or subsidiaries

Fill out your application as thoroughly as you can

For the scholarship application, you have the opportunity to provide the scholarship committee with a list of clubs and organizations you are involved in, a list of honors and awards you have received, a list of volunteer activities, and a list of paid work experiences/internships. The application allows an ample amount of activities to be listed for each section (around 10 or 11), so you should try to include every activity you have participated in or award you have received, no matter how small.

Make sure to list your most meaningful and important activities/awards first for each section to ensure that your application readers understand which activities you prioritize the most. For example, if you have been the captain of the tennis team for four years and dedicated many hours to the sport, you should definitely list tennis as one of the first activities on your list.

Emphasize activities where you have demonstrated initiative and leadership

One of the most important qualities the Coca-Cola scholarship committee values is leadership. Successful applicants for the scholarship should be able to demonstrate initiative and leadership through their activities, honors, community service, and work experience. The activities you include on your application should illustrate your interests and ability to be a leader. For example, if you only participated at your local soup kitchen because you just wanted to fulfill the community service requirements, this would not be an activity you want to include.

On the other hand, if you established a fundraiser or volunteer group at your school that provides food and necessary supplies to needy and homeless people in your community, you should definitely include this activity. The difference between these two examples illustrates what characteristics the Coca-Cola scholarship committee values the most. The former example portrays a desire to help others in one’s community, while the latter example shows someone who is passionate about community service and creates a system that can help others in their community with greater impact.

For semifinalists: highlight your most meaningful interests and personal characteristics

Were you selected as a Coca-Cola semifinalist? First of all, congrats! Second, if you are selected as a semifinalist, you will be required to provide additional details about your leadership, service, involvement, and work including statements of impact, essays, and an online submission of one reference from someone who can best assess your character and your impact on your community.

The second part of the application process is designed to get to know you better, rather than simply looking at a list of activities or awards. As a result, your statements of impact for your activities should highlight your most substantive experiences. Your essays should emphasize your greatest interests and personal characteristics. In fact, one of the essay prompts even asks you what activity you would participate in if you could only participate in one activity. You want to use your essays to speak about experiences in your life that have shaped your interests and personal goals. Unique and honest personal essays will help distinguish you from other candidates.

Additionally, make sure that you request a recommendation from someone who can attest to your personal qualities and dedication to your community, not just your work ethic or academic abilities. For example, my recommender was my guidance counselor because she could provide a more holistic overview of myself as well as provide details of my extracurricular activities, personal traits, and academic abilities.

For regional finalists: practice, practice, practice!

Were you selected as a Coca-Cola regional finalist? Congratulations! You have demonstrated yourself to be an exceptional candidate among a large pool of applicants.  If you are selected as a regional finalist, you will be subjected to a short 20-minute interview with three or four people. Some interviewers will be Coke scholar alumni and some may be employees of the Coca-Cola Scholarship Foundation.

You will have the opportunity to have the interview in-person or online. If you need to have an online interview, know that this will not affect your application! (I had an online interview, and my application was successful). During the interview, keep in mind that you may not have the opportunity to ask questions as they will probably cut you off at the 20-minute mark.

To prepare for the interview, make sure to review your application and familiarize yourself with your essay answers and lists of activities and awards. Also, it is very important that you practice answering sample interview questions with family or friends in order to feel more comfortable during the real interview.

This interview will not be like a normal college alumni interview, as all of your interviewers will have read your application thoroughly and will ask pointed questions about specific parts of your application. Therefore, practicing will make you more prepared to answer questions and will allow you to feel more relaxed. Finally, remember that the application process, especially the interview, can be subjective and unpredictable, so you should pat yourself on the back for making it this far. Good luck!

This informational essay was written by Rohan Krishnan, Yale University Class of ‘24. If you want to get help writing your application essays from Rohan or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions advisors, click here.

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Coca-Cola Scholarship: How To Apply and What You Need to Know

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The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is a subsidiary of the famous Coca-Cola Company. Its focus is, in its own words, “bring[ing] better to the world through investment in exceptional high school students who are dedicated to leadership, service, and action that positively affects others”. Through its scholarship programs and Leadership Summits, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has helped high school seniors achieve their academic and intellectual potential for over 25 years.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports more than 1,400 college students each year through its 3 nationally recognized programs. One of these programs is the Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship. 150 high school seniors are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship.

Unfortunately, the application period for 2019 high school graduates has closed, but it’s not too late for those graduating in 2020 or later. Read on to learn what you need to know to have a fighting chance of becoming a Coca-Cola Scholar, with all the perks and privileges that come with it.

Eligibility Requirements

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation very clearly outlines what types of students are eligible for the Coca-Cola Scholarship, and they will ask you to show proof that you meet all of their eligibility requirements when you fill out the application.

In order to qualify for the Coca-Cola Scholarship, you must be a graduating high school senior in good standing. You must also be a US citizen, US National, US Permanent Resident, Refugee, Asylee, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, or Humanitarian Parolee. You must also be planning to pursue a degree at a postsecondary institution within a year of completing your graduation. You must also have earned a minimum 3.0 weighted GPA at your high school.

You are not eligible for the Coca-Cola Scholarship if you are child or grandchild of any Coca-Cola employee, an international student, a high school graduate, or a temporary resident of the United States.

What is the Application Process Like/What Info Do I Need?

In order to apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship, you will need to submit a Google Form application via their online portal. However, if you want to see a sample application, you can view it here.

There are no essays, transcripts, or other supplementary documents needed to apply for this scholarship. However, we recommend securing a copy of your transcript before filling out this application in order to ensure that you are providing the most accurate and up-to-date information about yourself.

In addition, here are some other things you will need to gather before you start filling out this application:

• The High School Code for your school from CollegeBoard
• Your parents approximate combined income before taxes last year (optional)
• Information about all of your school-sponsored extracurriculars (e.g. how long you were in each club, what your official leadership titles were, how long you’ve been in these roles, etc)
• Information on any and all awards and honors you have received throughout your time in high school
• Information on any community service hours you have completed throughout high school
• The number of AP, IB, and Honors classes offered at your school
• Your grades throughout high school
• Your current class rank and class size
• Information on any and all work experiences you’ve had in high school (what was the job, how many hours did you work per week, etc)

Important Deadlines To Know

Every academic year, the application for the Coca-Colar scholarship opens in August and is due on October 31st. You may apply during the fall of your senior year.

When you’re figuring out when to start this application, you should keep in mind that it may take a few weeks to secure important documents like your official transcript and your parents’ tax information. Thus, it’s best to start sooner rather than later. You don’t want to be caught in a pinch at the last minute!

For More Information

Want to learn more about scholarships you could earn in high school? Check out these previous blog posts:

How Your SAT Scores Can Help You Earn Scholarships

15 College Scholarship Resources For High School Students

10 Weird College Scholarships You Should Consider

What You Need To Know For a Successful Scholarship Season

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How to Win the Coca-Cola Scholarship [2022 Edition]

$20,000. That’s how much you could win to help fund the cost of your college education as a recipient of the Coca-Cola Scholarship!

It’s a very generous award. And preparing an application deserves strong consideration for a spot on your scholarship application to-do list! 

To help you get started, this post is going to cover everything you need to know to put together a winning application!

Our goal is to help you maximize your chances of joining the ranks of one of the best scholarship programs out there and get $20,000 closer to paying $0 for college . 

Let’s start now with a quick overview of the Coca-Cola Scholarship and then work our way down to some application tips and strategies you can use!

One note before we jump in: If you’d like to apply to more scholarships than just the Coca-Cola Scholarship, Scholly Search  is the #1 scholarship app in the world and will instantly match you with hundreds-of-thousands of dollars scholarships based on your interests, accomplishments, and traits.  Give it a try today with a 100% free trial!

What is the Coca-Cola Scholarship? 

Awarded by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation , a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship.

It’s awarded annually to 150 graduating high school seniors who, according to the Foundation, have demonstrated “their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.” 

To date, over 6,300 students have benefited from the Coca-Cola Scholarship! 

When and how do you get to use the $20,000 award? As a winner of the scholarship, you get 4-10 years to use the full amount of the award on tuition at an accredited college or university to pay for tuition and other educational expenses like on-campus housing, a new computer, or textbooks. 

And there are some additional perks as well! You’d also become part of the large network of Coca-Cola Scholars and get an invite to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s frequent receptions throughout the country and the Leadership Summit in Atlanta every 5 years. 

The network of Coca-Cola Scholars is made up of many impressive alumni (including the founder of Scholly!) across a range of professions and industries. 

Eligibility Requirements for the Coca-Cola Scholarship

By now, you may be thinking: “This sounds great! I want to apply!” Awesome – let’s just make sure you’re eligible. 

According to the latest requirements, to be eligible to apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship , you must: 

• Be a current high school (or home-schooled) student attending a school in the US 
• Graduate and receive a high school diploma in the same academic year as the scholarship application deadline 
• Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, U.S. Permanent Resident, Refugee, Asylee, Cuban-Haitain Entrant, or Humanitarian Parolee 
• Intend to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution

You must also not be:

• The child or grandchild of an employee, officer, or owner of the Coca-Cola bottling companies, the Coca-Cola company, Company divisions or subsidiaries
• An international student 

How to Apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship 

You’re in luck. This scholarship doesn’t require application essays or supplementary documents. The only application requirement for the Coca-Cola Scholarship is that you submit a complete application. 

But don’t be fooled! The application itself will still take some work to complete. Here’s an overview of all of the information you’ll be expected to include: 

Contact information 

In addition to your personal contact information, you’ll need to provide your high school’s ACT/SAT code and the emails and telephone numbers of your school counselor and principal.

Your academic record 

In addition to your grades and courses starting from your freshman year, you’ll also need to know your class rank and class size. And if your school has AP, IB, and/or Honors courses, you’ll also need to know how many are offered. 

List of school clubs and organizations 

In this section, you’ll list your involvement and leadership roles in clubs and organizations like: 

• Student Council
• Class Officer
• Academic / Honor Societies
• School newspaper or School Literary Magazine, School Yearbook
• Drama, Theater, Dance or Other Performing Arts 
• Speech, Debate, or Forensics
• Music (Band, Orchestra, Vocal)
• Visual arts
• Any Other School-Related Clubs, Organizations, or Intramurals

List of school and non-school related awards, honors, special skills, or talents 

In this section, you’ll also have to choose your highest level of accomplishment (local, state, regional, national) for each grade that you received the award or honor. 

List of community service and volunteer activities 

Similar to the section for clubs and organizations, in this section, you’ll list your involvement and leadership roles in unpaid community service activities. You’ll also need to include any awards you’ve received for those activities, the total number of hours you committed to community service during each grade level, and the number of volunteer hours that are mandatory for graduation. 

List of paid work experiences 

For any paid employment, you’ll need to include information on the number of weeks employed, average number of hours worked per week during the school year, and average number of hours worked during the summer. 

And that’s it! 

If you’re reading this while the application is closed but want a preview of the complete application, take a look at the official Coca-Cola Scholarship sample application .

Coca-Cola Scholarship Application Timeline

Alright, if you’re eligible and hoping to make that $20,000 yours, you probably now have questions like: 

• When does the Coca-Cola Scholarship application open up? 
• When is the Coca-Cola Scholarship deadline? 
• When are the Coca-Cola Scholarship winners announced? 

In which case, we got you covered! Let’s look at a timeline — from start to finish — of what you should expect when applying for the Coca-Cola Scholarship. 

August: The Coca-Cola Scholarship application opens

October: The application closes at the end of the month 

November: 2,000 semi-finalists are selected to advance 

December: Semi-finalist submit extra scholarship application materials 

January: Semi-finalists are narrowed down to 250 applications 

February: Remaining semi-finalists participate in regional interviews 

March: 150 Coca-Cola Scholarship winners are announced 

Late March / Early April: Scholarship winners are invited to attend Scholars Weekend in Atlanta 

Tips and Strategies for Winning the Coca-Cola Scholarship

Thousands of students apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship every year. But only 150 are ultimately chosen. Here’s what you can do to increase your chances at winning the Coca-Cola Scholarship! 

#1 Start preparing the application early 

Given that the application doesn’t require you to write essays or submit supplementary documents, you could probably start and complete it in one afternoon. But should you? Absolutely not! 

If you looked at the sample application ( here it is again ) then you saw that there’s still quite a bit of information you’ll need to gather. And that will take some time.

Also, since the Coca-Cola scholarship is super competitive, you don’t want to leave important information out or make careless mistakes just because you’re rushing to get it done! 

Our advice: start collecting all the info you’ll need before the application even opens or, at the very least, soon after the application opens. 

#2 Highlight your leadership and involvement in your school community

This one’s important! In fact, it’s what this scholarship is all about. 

As said on their website , the Coca-Cola Foundation exists to improve the world by investing in “exceptional high school students who are dedicated to leadership, service, and action that positively affects others.” 

Make sure to position yourself as one of those exceptional high school students in your application by strategically selecting which clubs, awards, community service, and work experiences on your application. 

What do we mean by that? If you have participated in more activities, volunteer activities, etc. than you can fit on the app, make sure the ones you include are the ones that show in some way your leadership abilities and a commitment to giving back. 

And if you still have a year or two before you’ll apply for the Coca-Cola scholarship, make sure to actively seek out leadership roles and awards in clubs and activities that you both enjoy and make a positive contribution in your community. 

#3 Have someone else review your application before you submit it 

Again, the Coca-Cola Scholarship is very competitive. So, don’t let careless mistakes like typos, spelling mistakes, or grammatical errors be the reason your application goes from a ‘yes’ to a ‘no’!

Have someone like a family member, teacher, or guidance counselor review your application before you press ‘submit’. 

Depending on how well this person knows you, they might also be able to help you make sure you’re not forgetting any important activities, awards or work experiences that deserve a place on your application. 

#4 If you get an interview, practice beforehand 

If you’re lucky enough to be one of the 250 semi-finalists that gets selected for an interview, make sure you practice! 

You may even want to start practicing before you find out if you get an interview or not. Why? Because learning how to interview well isn’t just good for scholarship applications. It’s a skill that will benefit you over and over again in life. 

So, if you start preparing for an interview for the Coca-Cola scholarship and don’t get it, no problem. Your efforts will surely be rewarded with another opportunity down the line. 

What type of questions should you expect? Well, since Coca-Cola Scholars are selected for leadership and service, it’s a good idea to be prepared to answer interview questions like:

• Tell me about a personal achievement that makes you proud.
• Who are your role models?
• What do you plan to study in college and why? 
• What are your career goals? 
• Why do you think you deserve this scholarship? 

Where to Find More Scholarships 

The $20,000 Coca-Cola Scholarship is just one of many amazing scholarship opportunities you can win to help pay for college!

If you want to find even more scholarships, be sure to check out Scholly Search , our awesome scholarship database that can help you find all of the scholarships you’re qualified for! You can also check out the rest of our blog where we share tips and strategies on how you can find ways to pay for college and win other scholarships like the Gates Scholarship and the Dell Scholarship .

Good luck! 

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The Orange Grove

Coca Cola Scholarship Guide: Your Roadmap to Winning the Award

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the most recognizable and generous scholarship initiatives for high school seniors heading into college. Established by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, this merit-based scholarship is awarded to students who not only demonstrate academic excellence but also show a strong commitment to community service and leadership. Each year, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program empowers over a hundred students, assisting them financially on their path to higher education and enabling them to make a positive impact in the world.

Navigating the application process for this prestigious scholarship requires diligence and an understanding of what the foundation seeks in its scholars. Prospective applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and go through a multi-stage selection process to be considered. The rewards are considerable, not only providing financial assistance but also offering leadership development opportunities and access to a vibrant network of past and present Coca-Cola Scholars.

Key Takeaways

• The Coca-Cola Scholars Program offers financial support and leadership development to high school seniors.
• Applicants undergo a rigorous selection process, emphasizing leadership and community service.
• Scholarship recipients join an extensive network of scholars with ongoing opportunities for growth.

Overview of the Coca-Cola Scholarship Program

The Coca-Cola Scholarship Program is designed to foster leadership and community service among high school students, providing significant financial support through the esteemed Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Purpose and Vision of Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation aims to empower young leaders who are poised to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. It operates with a clear vision: to invest in exceptional students with a demonstrated ability to lead and serve, supporting them through college and helping them to actualize their full potential.

Overview of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program offers 150 scholarships each year, each valued at $20,000 , to support students’ higher education goals. This prestigious scholarship is part of nationally recognized programs that identify and nurture a diverse group of youth from across the country. The program not only provides financial assistance but also gives scholars access to leadership summits and a network of over 6,750 alumni who are leaders in their respective fields.

Eligibility Criteria

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is prestigious and selective. To navigate its requirements, candidates must understand the specific eligibility criteria, which hinge on academic achievement, residency status, and general requirements for high school seniors.

General Requirements

Applicants must be:

• Current high school (or home-schooled) seniors attending school in the U.S.
• Anticipating completion of high school diploma at the time of application
• Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution

Academic Achievement

The scholarship foundation looks for:

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 at the end of their junior year of high school

Residency Status

Candidates must be:

• U.S. Citizens , U.S. Nationals , U.S. Permanent Residents , Refugees , Asylees , Cuban-Haitian Entrants , or Humanitarian Parolees
• Ineligible individuals include international students not residing in the U.S. and those without legal residency status

Eligible high school seniors must carefully review these requirements before applying to ensure they meet the necessary standards set forth by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation .

Application Process

The Coca-Cola Scholarship is highly selective, offering substantial awards to exceptional high school seniors. Applicants must navigate a precise timeline, adhere to requirements for essays and transcripts, and secure endorsements through recommendations.

Application Timeline

The application process typically opens in August and closes in late October . High school students aiming for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation should prepare ahead of this window to complete their online application . It’s crucial to meet deadlines, as late submissions are not considered.

Essays and Transcripts

While essays are not a prerequisite for the Coca-Cola Scholarship, high school transcripts play a pivotal role. Applicants must include their academic records, starting from their freshman year. These records demonstrate their dedication to academic excellence as a graduating high school senior.

Letters of Recommendation

An applicant will need the recommendation of both a guidance counselor and principal. These letters of recommendation provide a third-party assessment of the student’s achievements and character. Obtaining strong endorsements can enhance an application, showcasing the applicant’s potential and involvement in their community.

Selection Process

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program offers an achievement-based scholarship that identifies exceptional high school seniors who exhibit a strong propensity for leadership and a dedication to service, aiming to make a substantial impact in their schools and communities.

Evaluation of Applications

Applications are meticulously reviewed to gauge the applicants’ academic prowess and extracurricular involvement. Emphasis is placed on leadership roles and the ability to drive positive change. Successful applicants will have demonstrated excellence in academics while showing a consistent commitment to serving their community.

Semifinalists and Finalists Rounds

During the semifinal stage, selected candidates are designated as 2024 semifinalists , marking their advancement towards the final round of evaluation. These semifinalists undergo additional scrutiny that includes an analysis of their detailed applications, where aspects of leadership, service, and overall impact are evaluated more closely. From this pool, finalists are chosen based on their capacity to lead and demonstrate tangible achievements in their respective spheres of influence.

Awards and Benefits

The Coca-Cola Scholarship stands out as a prestigious form of financial aid that not only bolsters students’ educational endeavors but also empowers them with leadership and community service opportunities. With a focus on merit-based excellence, this scholarship acts as a significant investment in the future of young leaders.

Scholarship Amount and Distribution

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program rewards 150 high-achieving high school seniors annually, offering each a scholarship valued at $20,000 . The scholarship funds can be utilized over a period of up to 10 years post high school graduation, offering recipients considerable flexibility in managing their finances. They may allocate the scholarship towards various educational expenses, such as tuition , books , and other academic costs.

Educational and Leadership Opportunities

Beyond financial assistance, the Coca-Cola Scholarship includes unique educational and leadership opportunities . Recipients gain access to a vibrant network of alumni and are encouraged to engage in events that further develop their leadership abilities. This form of enrichment extends the value of the scholarship beyond a monetary figure, embedding it into the recipients’ ongoing personal and professional growth.

Post-Award Commitments and Opportunities

Winning the Coca-Cola Scholarship is the beginning of a lifelong commitment to community service and leadership. Recipients join a vibrant network of alumni and have access to numerous development opportunities.

Alumni Network

Coca-Cola Scholars become part of an exclusive alumni network that fosters long-term personal and professional relationships. This network creates a platform for past scholars to connect, collaborate, and continue to make a significant impact in their communities. The alumni frequently interact through events and online platforms, ensuring that the values of leadership and service inherent to the scholarship endure well beyond the initial award.

Community Engagement and Service

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation encourages recipients to engage in community service projects and often partners with nonprofits to amplify their impact. Winners are expected to uphold a commitment to making a positive influence and may be invited to leadership summits and other events designed to bolster their goals and enhance their ability to lead. These opportunities not only reinforce the Scholars’ sense of responsibility but also empower them to enact change within their communities.

Through these post-award commitments and opportunities, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation assures that its scholarship is more than a financial aid; it’s an incubator for the next generation’s leaders.

Preparing a Competitive Application

To construct a standout Coca-Cola Scholarship application, one must concentrate on articulating a personal narrative through their essay and demonstrating a history of leadership, as well as service.

Crafting a Strong Essay

A strong essay resonates with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s values by highlighting an applicant’s unique experiences and perspectives. They should ensure it reflects their academic potential and portrays them as game-changers within their communities. Applicants must tailor their essays to showcase not only their high school achievements but also how they plan to impact the world positively. The narratives should be detailed, mentioning specific extracurriculars , awards and honors , and work experiences that align with the scholarship’s ethos of fostering exceptional high school students .

Demonstrating Leadership and Service Commitment

To illustrate a genuine commitment to leadership and service, applicants should present clear examples of their roles and contributions. Evidence of sustaining a 3.00 GPA while actively engaging in community services or leadership roles bolsters an application’s weight. The availability of an eligibility quiz online can guide students through the scholarship requirements, ensuring they meet the academic and service-oriented criteria. Their applications should enumerate leadership positions, service projects, and any impact made, reflecting the qualities the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation seeks in their scholars—those who not only excel in leadership but also in service to others.

Financial Planning and Education Funding

Proper financial planning is essential for students and families navigating the complex terrain of education funding. This section examines the intricacies of federal financial aid eligibility and strategies for leveraging other scholarships to cover tuition and related expenses.

Understanding Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

The eligibility for federal financial aid depends on several critical factors. Students must demonstrate a financial need, which is assessed by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They need to be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, have a valid Social Security number, and be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as regular students in an eligible degree or certificate program at a college or career school. Additionally, maintaining satisfactory academic progress in college or career school is mandatory for continued aid eligibility.

Leveraging Other Scholarships and Aid

Beyond federal aid, students should actively seek out scholarships, such as the Coca-Cola Scholars program , which provides achievement-based scholarships to high school seniors. Scholarship applications can be quite competitive, but they are critical in reducing reliance on loans and minimizing the financial burden of postsecondary education. Students are encouraged to apply for multiple scholarships and not just rely solely on federal aid, as scholarships do not require repayment and can significantly offset the costs of tuition and education-related expenses.

Additional Resources

This section provides essential contact details and an array of resources for applicants seeking further clarification on the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. It serves to guide students through the process with dedicated support and comprehensive information.

Contact and Support

For personalized assistance, applicants may reach out to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation through their contact page . The foundation provides a robust support system for inquiries related to scholarship details, the application process, and eligibility requirements. Students, educators, and counselors can find the necessary contact information to address their specific questions.

FAQs and Applicant Resources

A wealth of information is accessible on the program’s FAQ page , offering detailed answers to commonly asked questions. The FAQs cover various topics, from academic requirements to timelines and selection criteria. Additionally, the resource section provides valuable insights for leadership development, educational advancement, and action-oriented guidance, beneficial to business, arts, and international students eager to demonstrate academic excellence.

Success Stories

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program has a storied history of selecting high-achieving high school seniors who go on to make substantial contributions to society. These individuals exemplify leadership qualities and a commitment to community service.

Past Recipients and Their Achievements

Recipients of the Coca-Cola Scholarship have gone on to attend prestigious institutions like Harvard , Yale , Princeton , Stanford , and various Ivy League universities. Their disciplines and areas of impact are wide-ranging, including fields such as politics, law, and social entrepreneurship.

• Leadership in Politics : Many Coke Scholars have entered the political arena. They serve as advisors, policy makers, and even potential future politicians, with a deep understanding of legal frameworks and an unwavering commitment to public service.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship : From founding cutting-edge startups to leading game-changing initiatives in established companies, Coke Scholars are known for their innovative spirit. Their work often reflects the achievement-based ethos ingrained in them by the scholarship’s philosophy.
• Academic Excellence : On top of their extracurricular achievements, Coca-Cola Scholars have demonstrated outstanding academic prowess. Many have earned accolades at their respective institutions, contributing valuable research and scholarship across multiple disciplines.

In essence, the trajectories of past Coca-Cola Scholars underscore the program’s focus on nurturing future leaders ready to enact positive change.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation provides several scholarships each year to deserving high school seniors. Understanding the eligibility, application process, deadlines, financial details, scholarship benefits, and selection criteria will help applicants successfully navigate the application journey.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Coca-Cola Scholarship?

Applicants must be current high school (or home-schooled) seniors attending school in the United States; U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Permanent Residents, Refugees, Asylees, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, or Humanitarian Parolees. Eligibility extends to students anticipating completion of a high school diploma at the time of application.

How can I apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship?

Students can apply for the scholarship by completing an online application available on the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation website . The application requires detailed information about academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.

What is the application deadline for the current Coca-Cola Scholarship program?

The application deadline is typically in October each year. However, specific dates may vary, and students are advised to check the official Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation FAQ page for the precise deadline.

How much financial support does the Coca-Cola Scholarship offer to recipients?

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards 150 scholarships each year, providing $20,000 for 50 recipients and $10,000 for the remaining 100 recipients, dispersed over the course of their undergraduate studies. Financial support details are outlined on the scholarship page.

What benefits do recipients of the Coca-Cola Scholarship receive upon winning?

Beyond the scholarship funds, Coca-Cola Scholars join a vibrant network of over 6,300 alumni who have benefited from this scholarship. They receive opportunities for networking, professional development, and life-long connections.

What is the selection process for the Coca-Cola Scholarship?

The selection process is highly competitive, including a detailed application review, semi-finalist essays and recommendations, and an interview phase for finalists. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation assesses applicants for their leadership skills, academic excellence, and commitment to community service as part of the selection process .

Helpful Resources

Navigating the scholarship landscape can often be overwhelming, but there's no need to go through it alone. Scholarship Owl offers a supportive platform that can help simplify your search by matching you with scholarships suited to your unique situation. By consolidating numerous scholarship opportunities into one place, it provides a significant time-saving benefit, allowing you to focus more on your studies and less on the search. If you're looking to streamline the scholarship application process, Scholarship Owl may be a valuable tool in your educational journey.

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What is the Coca‑Cola Scholars Program?

The Coca‑Cola Scholars program is an achievement-based scholarship for graduating high school seniors which recognizes students for their ability to lead and serve, as well as for their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. The Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation exists 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.

Coca‑Cola Scholars can be found in every corner of the globe, in education and business, nonprofits and the arts, building better machines, creating cures, leading revolutions, dreaming new futures and researching the past in ways that change our tomorrows.

More than 6,150 Coca‑Cola graduating high school seniors have received more than $69 million in scholarships from the Coca‑Cola Scholars Program.

Each year, the Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation sends 150 bright, young innovators, leaders and game-changers into their lives beyond high school with a head-start toward achieving their goals.

More information

For more information about the Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation, including information about scholarship applications, please visit https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/ .

150 Coca-Cola Essay Topics

• 🏆 Best Essay Topics on Coca-Cola

✍️ Coca-Cola Essay Topics for College

👍 good coca-cola research topics & essay examples, 💡 simple coca-cola essay ideas, 🥇 most interesting coca-cola topics to write about, ❓ questions about coca-cola, 🏆 best essay topics on coca cola.

• Coca-Cola Company: Product Life Cycle
• Coca-Cola Consumer Behavior & Customers’ Biogenic Needs
• The Coca-Cola Production Cost per Bottle
• Management Theories in The Coca-Cola Company
• Comparative & Competitive Analysis of Coca-Cola and Pepsi
• Coca-Cola Company: The Product Diversification Strategy
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Management Information System Strategy
• Coca Cola Company: Strategic Management Recommendations Considering the competitive nature of the soft drink industry, it is paramount that the management of Coca Cola Company considers incorporates various concepts related to strategic management
• Coca-Cola: International Human Resource Management The Coca-Cola Company is among the victorious MNCs globally. It embraces the provisions of expatriation to enhance its international operations.
• Corporate Strategy of Coca Cola Coca-Cola has emerged as a brand name to reckon with globally. Its growth into the international market is a culmination of years and hours of strategic planning.
• Coca-Cola Company: Strategy Implementation and Controls This report focuses on the way Coca-Cola’s organizational goals are aligned with its strategic controls. The company focuses on the quality of products and customers’ satisfaction.
• The Coca-Cola’s and Pepsi Co.’s Employee Training Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola training topics aim to equip employees with technical, management, risk management, finance, and leadership skills among others.
• Coca-Cola Advert Analysis: “Friendly Twist” Advertising Campaign This essay addresses the sensory experience associated with the advert “Coca-Cola Friendly Twist” that delivers a creative strategy for encouraging more consumers.
• International Business Environment: Coca-Cola Company The paper provides an analysis of the International Business Environment of the Coca-Cola Company by highlighting major strategies employed under the aforementioned facets.
• Coca-Cola Company Competitive Position The main objective of this report is to evaluate the competitive position of Coca-Cola. The models used for analysis include the Porter’s Five Forces, PEST analysis, and SWOT.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Functional Areas and Goals The operations of the Coca-Cola Company are directly aligned with its strategy. Ideally, all the company’s operations are aligned towards the fulfillment of its mission and vision.
• The Coca-Cola Consumer Behavior and Demographics In the Coca-Cola adverts, the drink is promoted as ‘a brand connected to fun, friends and a good time.’ And the consumers want to identify with this.
• Coca-Cola and Pepsi: Differences and Similarities This paper discusses the differences and similarities in the histories, successes, and business models of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Employee Recruitment and Retention Coca-Cola has quite an extensive employee recruitment and retention system. It includes a number of different training and development programs for current and potential employees.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Environmental Factors It is important for marketing managers of Coca-Cola to understand the external environment in order to plan for the future.
• Coca-Cola Macroeconomic Factors Analysis Macroeconomic conditions are concerned with the features within the external environment in which a business operates.
• Coca Cola Versus Pepsi Advertisements This paper seeks to compare and analyze two picture ads that have been used by The Coca-Cola and Pepsi companies in their advertising endeavors.
• Coca-Cola’s Beneficial Strategic Management The benefits of strategic management are evident in Coca-Cola’s company, which witnessed increased operational efficiency, leading to increased sales.
• Coca-Cola Company: Strategic Management Process The paper at hand is devoted to the analysis of the process of strategic management basing on the Coca-Cola case study. Mission statement, a vision statement and values were examined.
• The Coca-Cola Firm’s Global Standardization Strategy Coca-Cola’s global standardization strategy combines central and local marketing functions in solving the stiff competition issue.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Cross-Cultural Management in the UAE Hofstede’s five-dimensional model is the most feasible cultural framework to use in evaluating a Coca-Cola company in the UAE.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Departments and Performance Coca-Cola’s key departments, including human resources, research and development, and marketing, appear to be more involved in the business model than Pepsi’s ones.
• Coca-Cola’s ‘Real Magic’ Advertisement Analysis Christened ‘Real Magic,’ Coca-Cola’s new campaign rekindles the multinational company’s trademark promise “to unite and uplift people every day”.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Objectives and Key Results Since Coca-Cola is a more adopted brand then than Pepsi, the company should adopt the latest marketing planning methods.
• Coca Cola Company: Cross-cultural Business Behavior Coca Cola is one of the most recognizable brands and products in the world. It has a long history, and its expansion to all of the continents is remarkable.
• Coca-Cola Company: Production and Industry Analysis Coca-Cola Company is one of the most influential beverages and soft drinks corporations with global influence and the largest market share.
• Coca-Cola Company: Strategic Management – Implementation and Monitoring The Coca-Cola Company that is one of the most well-known global brands has a rather complex and interdependent structure that is adapted to specific goals and its mode of operation.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Recruitment Effectiveness The topic is the recruitment policy of one of the largest companies in the world – Coca-Cola Company, the largest producer of water and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Analysis of the Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company is a multinational company operates within the carbonated soft drinks and beverage sector while serving billions of customers across the globe.
• Coca-Cola Company’s International Financial Management Coca-Cola is interested in the concept of international financial management (IFM) to manage international finances and maximize shareholder wealth.
• The Coca-Cola Distribution Centers: Manual Distribution The paper has discussed the supply chain models such as the Coca-Cola system’s MDC model that enables companies to fulfill their capacity to inspire economic development.
• Coca-Cola Light: Public Relations and Marketing Coca-Cola Light is a sugar-free, low caloricity beverage. Marketing communications have meaning to the extent that a predisposition him to see, hear, or read them.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Communication Strategies This paper analyzes The Coca-Cola Company’s communication strategies, evaluates their efficiency, and considers the ethical side of things.
• Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola Companies Performance Management Coca Cola and Pepsi must review their communication channels to ensure that all employees understand performance measures and motivation principles.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Supply Chain A supply chain is one of the most important systems for any company. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the supply chain practices of the Coca-Cola Company.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Organizational Development The top management must consider the industry’s current state, major competitors, and existing demand to create the basis for the future Coca-Cola company’s rise.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Strategic Plan in Pakistan Coca-Cola is the most prominent foods and Beverages Company in terms of growth and global market in this industry.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Strategy & Globalization Issues Multinational corporations are increasing day by day and they are usually criticized because of issues like environmental stability, sustainability etc.
• Coca-Cola’s Strategic Management, Mission & Vision Coca-Cola’s values in relation to the organization’s sense of ethics support the corporate principles of interaction in the team of specialists.
• Toyota’s vs. Coca-Cola’s Operations Management The adoption of proper operations management is an important success factor for leading global companies, namely Coca-Cola and Toyota.
• Ethical Considerations of Coca-Cola Company The paper discusses why Coca-Cola has had multiple ethical problems over the last decade and what the company can do to recover its reputation.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis This paper provides the SWOT analysis of Coca-Cola company, which underlines its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and possible threats.
• Coca-Cola Company. Strategy and Challenges. Coca-Cola should pay more attention to the image of the company and the distribution of costs spent on advertising and promotion should be organized better.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Marketing Communication The paper explores the Coca-Cola company’s political, legal, economic, and technological environment, presents a SWOT analysis and marketing communication strategies.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Strategic Analysis and Management Coca-Cola has sustainable competitive advantages: advanced logistics, representative offices in almost all countries, high demand for products, and relevant marketing solutions.
• Coca-Cola Soft Drink’s Brand Extension According to a new report, Coca-Cola has built loyalty over generations by ensuring customer satisfaction among its customer base.
• Coca-Cola’s and Samsung ‘s Home and Host Marketing Home and host markets require different strategies depending on the nature of consumers present in the respective markets.
• Coca-Cola’s Marketing Strategy and Product Success The Coca-Cola Company sported a product that spread rapidly and was accepted in almost every market, with people from all walks of life being able to accept it.
• Coca-Cola Company: Capital Asset Pricing Model The Coca-Cola Company is in the low volatility portfolios and for this reason, they have huge returns with very low risks. Coca-Cola faces huge market demand and its associated risks are minimal.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Global Operation and Cultural Diversity Coca-Cola is an example of a company that commits to supporting cultural diversity among its employees in many countries around the world.
• International Marketing of Coca-Cola When it comes to entering the IFCD market, Coca-Cola will have to overcome many barriers and market risks to be successful.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Marketing Plan and Performance In the Coca-Cola company, customer relationship management is at an advanced level due to effective and modern interaction strategies.
• The 2018 Coca-Cola Super Bowl Commercial Rhetorical Analysis The analysis argues that “The Wonder of Us” commercial of the relaxing coke experience associated with the youthful propagate the urge to get the refreshing moments with the drink.
• The Coca-Cola Company in Sub-Saharan Africa This paper discusses the origin of the Coca-Cola Company and the company’s scope of the market in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Coca-Cola: Grand Strategy Based on the activities of such a world-famous organization as Coca-Cola it is possible to pay attention to some specific approaches and strategies.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Ethical Communication Plan This paper describes a possible ethical framework that would suit Coca-Cola and help it with building and developing more efficient communication channels.
• PepsiCo vs. Coca-Cola in the South African Market PepsiCo has a more complex and multi-criteria strategy for aligning brands to achieve its goals due to broader product diversification and differentiation.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Communication Strategy Development The development of communication strategy, both internal and external, is essential for a company’s productive and efficient functioning.
• Coca-Cola Company’s Business Strategy The fundamental objective of the paper is to identify the primary business strategy employed by the Coca-Cola Company.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Strategic Analysis and Objective This paper aims to analyze the Coca-Cola company’s position using SWOT analysis and to propose a SMART objective.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Diversity Information The Coca-Cola Company is one of the brightest examples of cultural diversity, as this corporation works, operates, and signs contracts with people of various ethnic backgrounds.
• Coca-Cola Case Analysis Coca-cola is the largest beverage company in the world and employs about 71,000 people in over two hundred countries.
• Coca-Cola in Mexico: A State and a Multinational The work is aimed to analyse the relationship between the country and the multinational company by considering historical background behind the popularity of the brand Coca-Cola.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s PEST (Environmental) Analysis The rules and regulations of the state on food goods may directly affect Coca-Cola. Countries may have different versions of these laws.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Origin, Structure, and Performance As Coca-Cola’s performance continues to heighten, it would be essential to examine its origin, structure, performance, and the external factors that influence its functionality.
• Coca-Cola: Strategic, Marketing Plans and Opportunities The paper investigates the Coca-Cola Company’s strategic, marketing plans, and identifies opportunities for growth. It presents a precise study of various aspects of the company.
• Coca-Cola: SWOT Analysis In terms of the company’s presence in health drinks, Coca-Cola managed to produce sugar-free beverages, such as Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar.
• Coca-Cola’s Cultural Diversity in Theory and Practice Coca-Cola has shown a propensity toward cultural diversity in both theory and practice, building the foundation for a cross-cultural dialogue with all stakeholders involved.
• Coca-Cola: Business & Corporate-Level Strategies Companies that manufacture comparable items constantly compete for consumers, market share, and brand preservation.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Marketing Campaigns Coca-Cola’s greatest strengths are its enduring brand recognition and innovative marketing campaigns. That is how they expect to increase their sales.
• “Coca-Cola: The Great Meal” 2020 Commercial Video Assessment The video “Coca-Cola: The Great Meal” portrays many people of different genders, races, nations, and cultural backgrounds, all united by a newfound passion.
• Amazon, Coca-Cola, Nescafe: Three Global Brands Analysis Successful global brands hold a strong presence and huge market share internationally. This paper analyzes three global brands – Amazon, Coca-Cola, Nescafe.
• The Coca-Cola Environmental Sustainability Claims The Coca-Cola Company is one of the major players in the food industry that is trying to uphold the image of a “green company.”
• Marketing Mix in Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper The marketing mix affects the company’s strategy and tactics in a highly positive way. This paper gives an overview of marketing mix in Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper.
• Coca-Cola’s Consumers’ Awareness About Sugar Consumers’ behavior has a strong impact on the marketing sector. One of the most vivid examples, in the relevant context, is Coca-Cola’s case.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Diversity Management The Coca-Cola Company introduced a program to achieve diversity in HR. This program has achieved commendable results in increasing the number of minorities and women in the company’s ranks.
• Antecedents of Brand Loyalty: The Case of Coca-Cola This paper defines the importance of brand loyalty as a desirable outcome in the total marketing mix and personifies brand bonding in the case of a student who loves Coca-Cola.
• Coca-Cola Company: Management Overview Coca-Cola declares its mission as a purpose to refresh the world, to inspire the moments of optimism and happiness, and to create value and make a difference.
• Coca-Cola Company and Its Marketing Strategy Coca-Cola has no definite target market, but it is a well-known fact that most of the target marketing is aimed towards the younger part of the population.
• The Coca-Cola Company Unifying Culture The Coca-Cola Company maintains the principle of diversity, relying on employee groups to promote the organizational culture and integrate it with local ones.
• Coca-Cola: Working Capital and Supply Chain Management This paper aims to dwell on the working capital of Coca-Cola compared to its main competitors and identify how supply chain management impacts this indicator.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s 10K Report Analysis The 10-K report includes many factors involved in the business, and it can be hard for the inexperienced user to study the company via that form.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Healthy Marketing Strategy At the moment, the topic of healthy eating is especially relevant in America. In this regard, the internal marketing company focuses on taking care of the consumer’s health.
• Coca-Cola Firm’s Development of Healthier Products Coca-Cola today switches to healthier products and enters markets like coffee, drinks for athletes, and plant-based beverages.
• Coca-Cola Amatil Limited: Analysis of Financial Performance Coca-Cola Amatil should avoid overreliance in one market or a few markets for revenue. The company should explore new markets and new products. This will be a long term measure.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Mission and Goals Coca-Cola’s mission statement includes three brief components, each responding to the impact the company wants to leave on a global scale.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Diversity and Inclusivity One of the companies that advertise its dedication to diversity is the Coca-Cola Company. One of its missions is to create a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Discussion of Coca-Cola: The Marketing Mix The benefits of The Coca-Cola Company are conditional upon the careful approach to pricing, products, promotion, and price.
• Coca-Cola Branding, Mission, Vision and Values A strong brand requires creative designing, careful planning and execution. Branding gives a quick identification to the product’s manufacturer.
• Operational Improvements for the Coca-Cola Company This study represents an analysis of the Coca-Cola company’s monetary affairs. This paper aims to investigate several financial aspects of Coca-Cola production.
• The Coca-Cola Company and AT&T: Analysis of the Companies The Coca-Cola Company and AT&T are old US enterprises that have managed to stay successful under changing market conditions for a long time.
• Coca-Cola Company: Code of Ethics A code of conduct reflects a company’s core values, vision, and overall culture, the code of ethics creates expectations about the company’s work and general behavior.
• Coca-Cola Company Analysis and Success Story The coca-cola belongs to an iconic category, which indulges in the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of soft drinks. Analysis of the Coca-Cola company.
• The Global Campaign: Share the Happiness With Coca-Cola The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s leader in producing sweet soft drinks. Coca-Cola’s recent promotion campaign is truly global as it targets different countries including Nigeria and Uganda.
• Healthy Living Social Responsibility in Coca-Cola The essay looks into the ethics and social responsibility structure of Coca-Cola, especially its active and healthy living social responsibility angle.
• Coca-Cola: Marketing Department’s Mistakes Over the long period of the company’s existence, Coca-Cola has caused several major scandals due to its marketing department’s mistakes.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Competitiveness and Profitability The Coca-Cola Company is the largest non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer in the world. It produces 32% of all the types of drinks consumed in the world.
• Burger King, Squarespace, Stella Artois, and Coca-Cola: Advertising Strategies This research paper analyzes advertising strategies of Burger King, Squarespace, Stella Artois, and Coca-Cola.
• Coca-Cola Patriotic Promotion: Analysis This essay will analyze the Coca-Cola advertisement released during its 2016 celebration of its 75-year-long partnership with the United Service Organizations.
• The Coca-Cola Poland Firm’s Workplace Culture Emotional intelligence and mindfulness training have the potential to improve employee wellness, workplace culture, and overall organizational performance.
• Investment Portfolio: McDonald’s and Coca-Cola For this work, it is assumed that shares were bought from two companies: McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, on February 23, 2022.
• What Makes The Coca-Cola Company Run? The aim of the study is to compare the activities of Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) and establish the fundamental differences in business strategies.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Marketing After Economic Downturn The soda industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn, and exchange rates have affected major soda brands’ earnings in the aftermath of the recession.
• Marketing, Advertising, and PR: Coca-Cola Example The Coca-Cola company was chosen to illustrate concepts of marketing, advertising, and PR with proper examples and to highlight similarities and differences between them.
• Coca-Cola Firm’s Improved Strategy for Enhanced Business, Revenue, and Market Share Being a large multinational corporation, the Coca-Cola company should constantly improve its strategies for stable development in the future.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Marketing Strategy Challenge Coca-Cola faces a challenging marketing challenge: the company’s purpose is to change consumers’ negative associations with sugary fizzy drinks.
• Coca-Cola Inc. Applying Factor Mix’s Principles Coca-Cola, Inc. applies the factor mix’s principles to ensure that they remain competitive and sustainable to benefit the future population.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Personal Branding Recently, branding has played a major role in promoting recognition. I believe customers want reassurance that they are using a safe product or service.
• Coca Cola International Finance Global investment banking is a vital component of the Coca-Cola organization due to the vast reach of the organization.
• How Coca-Cola Company Targets Its Audiences Through Media Coca-Cola Company uses the advantages of the media with the aim to advertize its consumers about new products and different privileges.
• Global Codes of Conduct: Coca-cola, Bank of America, Sears Codes of conduct act as a reference that a company will use to determine whether the people that they are working with are performing well.
• New Product of Coca-Cola From the Strategic Management Point of View Coca-Cola introduced two new products in the market belonging to the category of Coca-Cola flavors such as popsicles and chewing gum.
• Coca-Cola Slash Prices and Financial Outcome The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect Coca-Cola’s brand new financial initiative to reduce their price on 16 ounce plastic bottles of coke will have on stock prices.
• Coca-Cola and Pepsi Companies: The Marketing Tricks and Advertisement Peculiarities Direct concentration of both companies on end-users and potential consumers is a core element of their activity.
• The Coca-Cola Company’s Communication Plan The communication analysis has shown the Coca-Cola Company’s strong suits that should be capitalized upon and make part of subsequent strategies.
• How Many Shares Are Held as Treasury Stock by Coca-Cola?
• What Strategic Challenges Has Coca-Cola Faced Over the Past Decade?
• How Many Times Has the Coca-Cola Logo Changed?
• Do Coca-Cola Promotional Contests Increase Sales?
• What Are Coca-Cola’s Major Equity Method and Investments?
• Where and What Year Was Coca-Cola Invented?
• What Is the Level of Recognition of the Coca-Cola Brand in the World?
• How Was Coca-Cola Invented?
• What Are the Core Values of the Coca-Cola Brand?
• What Is the Fun Fact of the Coca-Cola Logo?
• How Much Does the Coca-Cola Company Spend on Advertising?
• Why Does Coca-Cola Have a Different Taste in Different Countries?
• What Is the Sugar Content of Coca-Cola Drinks?
• Do Coca-Cola Prices Change Depending on the Outside Temperature?
• What Is Coca-Cola’s Return on Assets?
• Is the Secret Formula for Making Coca-Cola an Example of Intellectual Property?
• Does the Demand for Coca-Cola Products Decrease During the Cold Season?
• Who Are Coca-Cola’s Biggest Competitors?
• What Are the Short-Term and Long-Term Performance of Coca-Cola as a Business?
• How Does Coca-Cola Use Management Information Systems in Its Company?
• How Many Product Lines Do Coca-Cola Appear to Have?
• What Are Coca-Cola’s Product and Branding Strategies?
• How Does Coca-Cola Raise Capital Within International Financial Markets?
• In What Country Is Coca-Cola Most Popular?
• How Many Members Are on the Board of Directors of the Coca-Cola Company?
• In Which Countries Does Coca-Cola Conduct Business?
• What Is the Secret Behind the Name Coca-Cola?
• What Are the Cash Equivalents of the Coca-Cola Company?
• How Do Macroenvironmental Trends Affect Coca-Cola?
• In Which Countries Does Coca-Cola Have Subsidiaries?

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StudyCorgi . "150 Coca-Cola Essay Topics." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/coca-cola-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "150 Coca-Cola Essay Topics." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/coca-cola-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Coca-Cola were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 5, 2024 .

Get to know our 35th class of Coca-Cola Scholars - 150 incredible young people who are creating positive change in their communities and around the world.

Each scholar is being awarded a $20,000 college scholarship and joins a family of over 6,750 visionary leaders who are refreshing the world together., meet our 2023 coca-cola scholars.

Omar Abdellall

East stroudsburg, pa.

Omar has always had a burning passion for tech – whether it be programming, designing, or other digital media. Despite being colorblind, Omar competes and excels in his academics and extracurriculars – promising to change the world and share his knowledge. A senior from a small town in Pennsylvania, Omar founded a computer science club at his school, where students learn and expand their knowledge in programming, web design, movie creation, and other types of digital media. His goal is to create equal access to opportunities in computer science by teaching programming to middle school students. Omar will be attending Yale University in the upcoming fall majoring in Computer Science and Economics.

Sydney Acie

Charlotte, nc.

Sydney is a vision oriented leader who is passionate about empowering her community through positivity and financial literacy. She founded the Financial Literacy Initiative, serves as the President of the Positivity Project, President of the National Technical Honor Society, Vice President of the National Honor Society and is active as a Girl Scout serving for 13 years. She is the Social Media and Marketing Manager for the non-profit, The Hollingsworth Foundation, bringing awareness to Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. She is an advocate for helping minorities gain access to financial literacy and hopes to find a cure for SCA Type 7. Sydney wants to major in Business to help bridge the wealth gap in the world by starting a consulting firm.

Mohit Agarwal

Eden prairie, mn.

Mohit Agarwal is an advocate and leader dedicated to advancing educational equity. As the Founder & Executive Director of Educaturu, a multi-state non-profit, Mohit has lobbied in the Senate, partnered with multiple F500 companies, and raised over $80,000 in educational materials. At school, Mohit founded the Economics Club – where he championed the National Econ Bowl and Olympiad – and is a nationally top-ranked PF debater, DECA competitor, and extemporaneous speaker. Further, he’s conducted behavioral economics research and was recognized as a 2022 Regeneron ISEF Finalist for his work on applications of computer vision in skin cancer detection. Mohit plans to study CS & Economics and spends his free time bouldering, building model planes, and performing stand-up.

Hashem Albezreh

Hashem Albezreh is a passionate young leader and community organizer with a strong track record of transforming vision to reality. In addition to being the President of his senior class, President of his school’s Interact Club and Debate, and other initiatives at his school, Hashem has successfully founded and led several organizations, raising funds, and working with diverse teams to achieve national and international recognition. He is a board member at the local interfaith forum and the cofounder of an international youth initiative funded by the World Religion Foundation that utilizes art to build leadership skills and promote collaboration for social justice. Hashem is also an avid pianist and competitive soccer player.

Hussein Almosawi

Louisville, ky.

Hussein Almosawi is an ambitious and forward-thinking senior at Butler Traditional High School who has a passion for making a difference in his community. In addition to volunteering to tutor in his high school, he is also a soccer coach at Gutermuth Elementary School and is a proud member of prestigious organizations such as Governor Scholars Program and Whitney M. Young Scholars Program. He is determined to use his knowledge to contribute to his community and is dedicated to making a positive mark that will last for generations. After graduating from high school, Hussein plans to major in Computer Science and Engineering with the goal of using his skills to drive meaningful change in his community.

Cherie Animashaun

Cherie Animashaun is committed to creating equitable spaces for children through education, policy, and literature. Since publishing her first book at 12, Cherie has founded three organizations, Her Rising Initiative, Street 4 Souls, and Innovate, to empower marginalized women, youth, and unstably housed individuals around the world. Cherie started a statewide program, Girls Who Lead, offering free workshops in STEM, arts, and law to 200+ girls. As President of her school’s Black Student Union and the Student Representative on her District’s Curriculum and Standards Committee, Cherie has played an integral role in initiating the first African History Course and newly enacted hate speech policies in Niles Township Schools.

Southaven, MS

Aminata Ba is a Senegalese-American leader dedicated to paving pathways built on equity and accessibility. A member of the Mississippi Student Advisory Council and the Southaven Mayor’s Youth Council, Aminata gives a voice to the thousands of students she serves as student body president. Representing herself on the state and national level, she has won the QuestBridge “USA Award,” the Secretary of State “Promote the Vote” Essay, and awards in debate. As a champion for voter advocacy, Aminata has enacted plans for a voter registration/education drive in her community. Aminata will continue her interests by majoring in Public Policy and Economics in order to better understand issues that marginalized groups face regarding socioeconomic disparities in rural America.

Akshay Badlani

Chicago, il.

Akshay Badlani is the founder of Still Standing Strong Stories (SSSS), an organization where people can write stories about overcoming a difficult experience and how that experience made them stronger. He founded SSSS during the COVID pandemic, hoping that viewers can use SSSS as an outlet for hope. In addition, Akshay was president of the American India Foundation’s Junior Board. He led several initiatives to combat socioeconomic issues in India, raising $120k to support causes in India. As an advocate, Akshay interned under politicians to tackle issues such as gun violence. He also participated in several geography, history, and science competitions at the national and international levels, and conducted genetics research at UChicago’s GenSCAPE Lab.

Samir Batheja

Dix hills, ny.

Samir Batheja is the founder/president of StandUp for Teens, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the educational resource gap. With the help of twelve volunteers, Standup for Teens has distributed more than six thousand books and established fifteen mini-libraries in homeless shelters. Samir is also involved in his school. He started two Seminar Series, one themed for math and another for science, and invited professors from universities across the US. He founded and is president of Inner Balance, a yoga and meditation club, and the English Honor Society. Samir, an avid researcher, was named a Regeneron STS Scholar. He plays varsity baseball. Samir enjoys watching sports, listening to music, and playing with his dog in his free time.

Christopher Bauge

Belmont, ma.

Christopher is committed to service and mentorship. A longtime volunteer with Best Buddies, he created a bi-monthly virtual Best-Buddies-At-Home program during the pandemic for middle school students with special needs. He serves his community as a Youth Commissioner, music mentor, and Eagle Scout, and is a John F. Kennedy Make a Difference Award recipient. A musician, Christopher was selected internationally for The Kennedy Center/NSO Summer Music Institute. An advocate for multicultural voices, he was a U.S. State Department National Security Language Initiative cultural youth ambassador. At school, he is Student Senate president, marching band drum major, and a host of the Asian American Club cable show Fishbowl 256. He will attend Harvard College in the fall.

Okezue Bell

Okezue is the inventor of the WeArm, a low-cost prosthetic arm and founder of Fidutam, a microfinancing application for the unbanked. He has raised over $400,000 in corporate support and prizes for his enterprises, which have been used by over 10,500 amputees and financial vulnerable communities. Bell has advised Perfect Day alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, the American Lung Association, the United Nations, and more on climate and education policy, and hosts STEM workshops that have reached 65,245 underserved students across 42 countries and 75,019 students across 80 countries and 27 states overall. He has also conducted published, graduate-level research at MIT, RSI, Harvard, and more. He plans on studying EE and symbolic systems in college.

Sahil Bhandary

Wellington, fl.

Sahil is an advocate for healthcare and education equity. He is the founder of the Healthcare 4 Kids Program and co-founder of Bridging the Gap, an organization that provides tutoring, material supplies, and specialized classes. Passionate about neuroscience, he is an intern at the Palm Health Foundation where he researches brain health, an intern at Bethesda Medical Center, and founder of the neuroscience club. He is a Kovner Opportunity Scholar, Sunshine State Scholar, chairman of the Nepalese Association of Florida Youth Forum, founder of the Amplifying the Arts Program, and vice-president of his school’s piano department. Sahil hopes to become a neurosurgeon who opens brain development research centers in developing countries.

Shriya Bhat

Shriya Bhat is a passionate scientist, public speaker, and champion of affordable medicine. She founded the 501(c)3 non-profit SySTEM for Success, through which she has led projects to foster STEM education in underserved communities, including hard-of-hearing children and children living in rural India. She has conducted microbiology research from a workbench at a local clinic lab to Harvard Medical School through Research Science Institute (RSI) in efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and innovate affordable medications. Shriya is also a nationally-ranked public speaker, ambassador to a global voicebank, and advocate for those with speaking disorders. Her AI speech assistant app, SpeakUp, placed first at the Global Startup Challenge and was awarded $20,000.

Ananya Bhatia

Shreveport, la.

Ananya is a grassroots policy advocate. After leading a movement securing free menstrual products for all local high schools, she now works with LA legislators on menstrual equity bills and is the PERIOD Movement’s LA Community Outreach Director. She found her passion for criminal justice after interning at her parish’s juvenile court and has since led the LA Youth Advisory Committee to draft topical statewide resolutions. As a Girl Up International Teen Advisor, she works with the United Nations as a gender equity activist. At school, she is president of NHS, Model UN, UNICEF, and TED-Ed. She has played the violin for 14 years and helps run her family’s Indian restaurant. Ananya will attend Columbia University to study Urban Studies and Political Science.

Liv Birnstad

Washington, dc.

Liv Birnstad is a Senior at Capital City Public Charter School and is currently serving her second term on the D.C. State Board of Education. Within the State Board, Liv sits on the Education Standards Committee and is a co-chair on the Student Advisory Committee. Outside of her time on the board, Liv is a member of her schools Queer and Trans Student Alliance which hosts and creates annual school-wide professional development sessions for teachers and staff. Liv is an award-winning debater and recently began coaching middle school students in the fundamental skills of debate and international relations. With the nonprofit Civic Suds, Liv is the head of LGBTQ+ programming and is planning D.C.’s first city-wide Queer Prom!

Landon Bishop

New orleans, la.

Landon Bishop is a filmmaker, historian, and community advocate. As founder of the first high-school-run Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site in Louisiana, he’s worked to combat economic inequality, achieved $20,000 for local communities, and received national accolades. With the Historic New Orleans Collection and Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, he chronicled Black changemakers through documentaries. While in his Foundations of Education class, he authored a research paper focusing on the mental health of students of Color and was chosen to present at the American Education Research Association. In college, Landon plans to study Economics and Film and Media Studies, hoping to tell stories that bring new and untold perspectives to the main stage.

Nicholas Booth

Nicholas Booth is a civic leader, tackling challenges both local and global. After winning an electoral redistricting contest, Nicholas drew maps, petitioned his legislators, and testified before his governor’s office, ensuring fair representation for all Pennsylvanians. In his immediate community, Nicholas has helped local retailers recover from Pandemic challenges by working with his town to host a multitude of festivals and events. By leveraging his love for computers, Nicholas has also led an initiative to donate over fifty computers to underserved children, helping to build an elementary school in rural Kenya. Additionally, he is a track captain and president of his class, FBLA, and MUN. Nicholas will attend Dartmouth next fall.

Leslie Bravo

Wichita, ks.

Leslie Bravo is passionate about promoting STEM and advocating for climate change. As the founder and CEO of STEM Academy For Girls, she provides girls with opportunities to explore and engage with STEM. She has also founded Climate Control Network and Green Empowerment, both focusing on climate change and creating action driven projects to educate communities about sustainable practices. Leslie was selected to speak and share her efforts at Stanford University’s Democracy, Civil Society, and Digital Technology Conference. She has also conducted chemotherapy research at the University level, serves as president for both the National Honor Society chapter and her school’s leadership club, and is the captain for her high school soccer team.

Cadence Brown

Calvert city, ky.

Cadence Brown is a youth advocacy organizer and peer researcher with the Kentucky Student Voice Team as the Cross-Organizational Coordinator. She has a strong interest in the intersections between gender-based violence and education justice. Cadence is a student engagement organizer with Know Your IX, an organization focused on sexual violence survivor organizing as it pertains to Title IX. She has experience in youth participatory action research, studying peer relationships, learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and race, ethnicity, and school climate. In her community, she works in her school’s youth service and family resource center and interns with the local domestic violence crisis center. Cadence will be attending Yale University.

Daniel Camacho

Daniel Camacho is a leader who lives to serve others in his community. Being Student Council President at Rogers High School, he has been able to continue to be a host of blood and food drives. His council has done a fantastic job raising school spirit through fundraisers and creative beautification. Daniel is also a Drum Major for the Rogers High School Marching Mountaineer Band. When it’s not marching season, he plays the bassoon in the symphonic band. He made All-State Symphonic Orchestra as a bassoonist. Daniel’s Hispanic heritage and passion for representing others like him have led him to become president of the Rogers High School chapter of the League of United Latin Citizens. The club gives a taste of Latin culture and welcomes all.

Lidia Cappelletti

Allen park, mi.

Lidia Cappelletti is an author and advocate. She has authored the young adult book Half the Truth and a poetry book Sparks & Ashes, which reflects on the many facets of being a teenager in today’s world. Serving as President of her school’s SADD chapter, she planned and executed its first Red Ribbon Week to advocate for passengers and encourage safe decisions on the roads. This project earned the club the Exceptional Service Project Award. She has also served as her Student Council’s Executive Board President orchestrating a Charity Week initiative, raising thousands of dollars for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children’s Heart Foundation, Kids Talk, First Step, and Night Angels. This fall, Lidia will be studying business.

Varuni Chopra

North royalton, oh.

Varuni Chopra is the founder of Bridge the Gap Initiative – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects senior citizens with high school students for free technology lessons, bridging the intergenerational gap. Through her organization, she raised over $10,000 in funding to reach over 3,000 senior citizens internationally. She was also named a Prudential Emerging Visionary, Hershey’s Heartwarming Young Hero, T-Mobile Changemaker, and Awesome Foundation Grant Winner for her service work. As a leader in her community, she also served as Red Cross Club president, member of the District Strategic Planning team, and intern at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. This fall, Varuni plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to study engineering and data analytics.

Caleb Chung

Colorado springs, co.

Caleb is a Coloradan who is passionate about tackling extreme poverty. For the past ten years, he has been a speaker, advocate, and fundraiser with World Vision. He is also student body president, a two-time speech and debate state champion, FBLA district president, and a student attorney with Teen Court. His hobbies include snowboarding and studying apologetics. This fall, Caleb plans on attending Harvard as a Cameron Impact Scholar. He is the son of Vinh and Leisle Chung.

Isabella Cook

Bloomfield hills, mi.

Isabella Cook thrives on creating art and inspiring change. An avid photographer and digital artist, she is published on Vogue.com as part of PhotoVogue Global and on BBC.com. She is featured in Scholastic’s Best Teen Artists 2021 and 2022 and earned five Scholastic national gold medals. As founder of Comfort 4 Kids in Court, an organization working to reduce child anxiety in court, Isabella authored two books to educate children on the legal process. Isabella, a Girl Scout Ambassador, is a national Gold Award recipient and served as GSSEM’s Young Woman of Distinction. At school, she is secretary of the Honor Council, captain of the varsity swim team, and president of the Mental Health club. Isabella will attend Brown University this fall.

Tyler Cooper

Tyler Cooper forged a path aiming for inquiry and solving real-world problems. His family’s story inspired him to start GoCitizen from a mission-critical passion to prepare Legal Permanent Residents for the U.S. Naturalization process. Through partnerships and perseverance he assists many in their path to Citizenship. He uses award-winning technology to link people and educate, bridging the gap between the connected and the disconnected. His love of innovation continues to drive his Engineering and AI research and team recognition at International Events. He is dedicated to teach and inspire with a guiding philosophy to experience and empathize through unique and valuable experiences that empower and motivate him as a life-long learner and world changer.

Vincenzo D'Amato

New windsor, ny.

Vincenzo (Enzo) Damato is a high-impact computer science researcher, innovator, and educator. He is the youngest person globally to bring an IBM mainframe online and has been building and running an extensive three-rack server lab for the past eight years. Enzo uses this equipment to help educate others in computer science, creating and teaching his high school’s first AP Computer Science course and founding a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to provide quality computer science resources and education to the underprivileged. When not maintaining his lab, developing the latest cutting-edge software, or furthering technical literacy, Enzo keeps busy working as an avid entrepreneur running a managed service and software development company.

Alissar Dalloul

Staten island, ny.

An impassioned advocate for social justice, Alissar founded and directs the nonprofit Public Health PHC-publichealthphc.com-which hosts advocacy days and fundraisers while sharing globally accessible resources on issues like menstrual equity and gun violence. Music has been integral to her creativity and advocacy work; for one, she composes raps advocating for blood donations! At school, she is President of Student Government and Captain of the tennis team. A hospital volunteer researching anorexia and an advocate introducing bills in New York’s Assembly for childhood cancer, Alissar hopes to, one day, join Doctors Without Borders. Her hobbies include learning languages and performing-recently as Regina George in Mean Girls: The Musical.

Jared Dawkins

Beach park, il.

Jared Dawkins is an advocate for civil rights and social change. As the President of his high school’s National Honor Society, he encourages high school students to give back to their community in innovative and meaningful ways. He has also formed a Project Literature Book Club at his high school to promote his love for reading and to increase students’ access to diverse, culturally-relevant books. Jared is also passionate about progressing the equity and safety of his community. In light of this, he has led a project to get benches installed at bus stops and currently leads a Drug Prevention/Awareness club at his high school.

Carolyn Dorantes

Salinas, ca.

As a self-proclaimed agent of change, Carolyn has strived to reach education equity within her community and many others. Through her zealous advocacy, she has helped organize funding for the establishment of community schools within her district. Alongside her peers, she is always ready to hold space with community leaders and political figures to help communicate student needs in academia. With the student-led organization, La Cosecha, she has deciphered data to encourage her school district to accurately distribute funding across all schools. She has published several articles nationally, discussing the challenges many first-generation students face when applying to college. She currently spends time programming and writing for her blog: Pivotal Perspectives.

Rockville, MD

Tom Dubnov is an Israeli-American passionate about addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict & building a more just Israeli society. By founding Project Zkor, an international nonprofit dedicated to honoring fallen Israeli soldiers from underprivileged & minority backgrounds, Tom has raised thousands of dollars for bereaved families & organized commemoration events for communities around the world. Tom is an APEX scholar-artist, utilizing ethnographic research & visual design to investigate Drone Warfare’s role in asymmetric occupations. Tom is the chapter president of the Greater Washington DC Tzofim Scouts, a Varsity Cross-Country runner, & an Allon Centre Youth Social Entrepreneur. Tom will be enrolling at Princeton University this fall.

Sarah Dufays

Sarah Dufays is a trilingual Colombian and French change-maker with a passion for ethical, socially-impactful computer science. As an AI-enthusiast and one of the youngest Certified Ethical Hackers, president of her school’s Computer Science Pre-professional Program, and founder of the nonprofit Compsivity, she unlocks computing opportunities for youth and underrepresented communities. Having raised $120,000 worth of hackathon prizes; had internships or mentorships for companies such as ALTEN and Microsoft; and led several winning teams for national competitions, she hopes to become a successful tech entrepreneur. Moreover, she is an avid hiker, two-time Taekwondo black belt, and National Hispanic Scholar. Sarah plans on studying Computer Science at MIT this fall.

Lauren Ejiaga

Lauren Ejiaga is a STEM researcher and environmental advocate passionate about uplifting her community. She conducted multiple research projects on climate change issues and has been recognized by NJSHS, US Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and Broadcom MASTERS. She founded a series of workshops called the Conservation and Restoration Conjunction to foster interest in STEM education and environmental protection among youth, which was honored with the international Brower Youth Award. Lauren leads the Native Plants Project for Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and is an inaugural member of the 2022 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Rising Leaders Initiative. She plans to pursue neuroscience and environmental studies in college.

Lindsay Flores

Oklahoma city, ok.

Lindsay Flores is passionate about education inequality and its effect on marginalized students in her community and beyond. She is the founder of Higher Education Within Reach: a college prep program educating local high school students on attending college without financial debt. Lindsay is also Key Club president, Stage Crew manager, a teacher at her church’s nursery, and co-author of “Stories from The Heights”. From this, her purpose in life is to teach in order to create fewer problems for the children of tomorrow. Her future career path involves returning to her high school to be a teacher where she will have the privilege of being a benevolent adult in students’ lives and an avid listener to their stories where there has been none.

Connor Fogarty

Connor is passionate about using technology to support those in his community and beyond. As the founder of Devs Do Good, an Iowa-based nonprofit, he organizes hackathons where students interested in computer science design websites for local charities. As a computer science researcher, Connor has built tools that help programmers more efficiently debug code and generate computer science exam questions for professors. During the summer, Connor has interned at MITRE Corporation and Workiva as a software engineer. When he’s not programming, Connor serves as secretary of philanthropy on his school’s student council and is a member on his school improvement advisory council. Connor plans to study computer science at Stanford University.

Cooper City, FL

Luke Freed is a high-impact activist, changemaker, and researcher dedicated to increasing financial literacy and combating economic inequality. As the founder of the Financial Education Initiative, he has led financial literacy programs for 200+ students and spearheaded petitions to policymakers, prompting them to draft legislation pending in Congress. He serves as Vice-President on the international student advisory board for Young Investors Society, where he coordinates meetings, events, and fundraisers for 9,000+ students. Luke represented the US in the World Economics Cup, and has also published research in the WFUNA-backed International Social Science Conference for Youth. He plans to study economics and public policy in college.

Caroline Gao

Caroline is the founder and executive director of The World in Us, an educational nonprofit cultivating cultural awareness and global citizenship across 30 countries. She also co-founded Aster Lit, an international literary magazine illuminating diverse youth voices. As the Oregon Youth Governor and student advisor to the State Board of Education, she represents over 550K students in advocating for youth civic engagement and equitable education policies. She’s also served as a U.S. Senate Youth Program delegate, NSLI-Y Alumni Representative, tech equity researcher, and her school’s ASB president. She will attend Harvard University. In her free time, she enjoys playing the flute, taking walks, and maintaining her 1,200+ day Duolingo streak.

Dana Garibaldi Saenz

Mcallen, tx.

Dana Garibaldi is a Latina immigrant who is passionate about STEM education for underrepresented individuals. As the Founder of Miss Scientist, she provides STEM access to female and minority youth in her community. She organized the international She Can STEM Virtual Event, featuring female scientists from NASA, Microsoft, and more. Through the MITES Semester program, her investigative article on diabetes rates in Latinos was nationally published. She is also a Youth Leadership Board Member for the 501(c)3 educational equity nonprofit GripTape, Head Captain of her Science Olympiad team, Class President, and a nationally-qualifying Speech and Debate competitor. She plans to study Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard.

Samantha Giles

Glen allen, va.

Samantha launched a webpage where students worldwide can anonymously discuss ways schools can improve mental health. Based on their responses, she helped publish a thirty-page policy report detailing culturally responsive mental healthcare. She co-authored the “Bill of Rights to Support the Mental Health of Girls…of Color” with the National Black Women’s Justice Institute and Georgetown Law. She is the Chief Operating Officer of the “Diversify Our Narratives” nonprofit that’s been featured in Time Magazine and has 200,000 followers on Instagram. Samantha interviewed the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Color Purple” and earned an embossed Certificate of Accomplishment from Princeton University for her work in race relations. She will be attending Harvard.

Samantha Glover

Samantha loves spending time in the Sierras, teaching figure skating, and intersectional gender justice. Through an English class assignment, she discovered her passion for menstrual equity which inspired her legislative advocacy in the Nevada State Legislature. She spearheaded legislation that would require public schools to provide menstrual products inside bathrooms at no cost to students. Understanding the importance of mutual aid, she co-founded Red Equity, an organization that works to end period poverty through advocacy, distribution, and education. Samantha enjoys fly-fishing, skiing, and spending time with her family. She will be attending the University of Virginia as a Jefferson Scholar.

Elaine Gombos

Pittsburgh, pa.

As a biracial immigrant, Elaine embodies her mixed identity through interdisciplinary interests and exploration. She is the co-founder of Neveryone Neverywhere, a mixed-race affinity group that empowers multiracial youth to explore all aspects of their identities. Elaine is also the Executive Director of Programs at Leaders Across the World, a youth-led virtual international exchange program. She is the president of her school’s Science Olympiad team and Asian Student Union, as well as a lifelong chorister and theater enthusiast. An advocate for peer-to-peer learning, Elaine organizes student-led support and mentoring systems. She is motivated by others’ stories, feedback, and support, complemented by a strong inner vision for an inclusive, equitable future.

Michael Gonzalez McNeil

Deer park, tx.

Michael is passionate about making environmentalism more attainable to “dirty” communities. Along with the Go Green Club, he’s installed recycling bins in his high school’s cafeteria and advocated for eco-friendly alternatives to Deer Park City council members. He has also engineered a motorized recycling bin to sort aluminum cans and plastic bottles via object identification to prevent cross-contamination when practicing eco-friendly waste management. He loves leading food repack shifts at the Houston Food Bank, collaborating with cardiologists in the Electrophysiology Clinical Research Innovations Lab at the Texas Heart Institute, gardening with his mom, and playing tennis with his dad. He has been admitted to the Computer Science program at UT Austin.

Nipun Gorantla

Matthews, nc.

Nipun leads his community in eroding barriers against healthcare and scientific equity, melding humanism, medicine, and research. As Chairman of the International Youth Neuroscience Association, Nipun led 8,000+ members from 650+ chapters, spearheading global access to neuroscience education. As COO and Co-Founder of NeuralVillage, Nipun helped construct a school in Kwali, Nigeria to promote health literacy. Whether performing neurological research with the National Science Foundation or Harvard Medical, coaching students in communication as Co-Founder and VP of his school’s Speech and Debate team, or fundraising for the Childhood Cancer Society, he always strives to foster empathy and compassion. Nipun is an aspiring pediatric neurologist.

West Des Moines, IA

Claire Gu is a passionate researcher and youth STEM education advocate. She founded AI for IA, a group of elementary school clubs aiming to provide young girls exposure to the field of artificial intelligence. A Research Science Institute Scholar, Claire has conducted multiple research studies, including developing deep learning models for harmful algal bloom prediction and optimizing the design process for nanoscale optical lenses. She is also a competitive athlete, having won the Iowa Girls High School State Singles Championship in tennis last summer. During her free time, Claire enjoys playing the violin, biking, and reading history books. In college, Claire plans to study data science, biochemistry, and public policy.

Hannah Guan

San antonio, tx.

Hannah Guan is a mathematician, researcher, and changemaker. She was named an AMC 12A Young Women in Mathematics winner and participates in the USA Mathematical Olympiad, the USA Physics Olympiad, and the USA Computing Olympiad in the Gold Division. Hannah has research experience in the interdisciplinary fields of statistics, artificial intelligence, and genomics. She uses statistical models and machine learning algorithms to conduct genetic studies on aging and age-related diseases. Hannah founded San Antonio Math Include (SaMi) to provide greater access to STEM education to all students from different backgrounds, experiences, and cultural perspectives. SaMi offers free classes & summer camps for all students from 42 states in the U.S. and four other continents.

Shanmathi Gunasekaran

Alpharetta, ga.

Not only is Shanmathi a tech enthusiast, but she is also a fervent advocate for educational equity. Through her non-profit initiative, Project Infinite, Shanmathi has provided programming resources to 800+ students from marginalized groups across the globe. She uses her voice to advocate for STEM education by speaking to state legislators and serving on her county’s teen advisory board. Shanmathi works in artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive systems research through programs at Georgia Tech and MIT, where she strives to develop ethical solutions in AI. At school, she serves as the President of FBLA and Computer Science Club. Beyond academics, Shanmathi expresses her creativity as a fashion entrepreneur and Bharatnatyam dancer.

Sabrina Guo

Oyster bay, ny.

Sabrina is an author, poet, activist, researcher, musician, model, and humanitarian. She’s a Regeneron STS and World Science Scholar, and a writer-activist who represented the USA to speak out against climate injustice and perform her poetry at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). She’s the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden, a candidate for the US Presidential Scholars Program, and the winner of the Civic Expression Award and 9 national medals from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Sabrina is the founder of Girl Pride International and Long Island Laboring Against COVID-19. Her work has been featured by Disney, NBC News, KBC, Points of Light, and commended by the White House, US Congress, and Michelle Obama.

Asanshay Gupta

Atlanta, ga.

Asanshay Gupta is a student at Atlanta International School, but also a designer, app developer, nonprofit founder, and maker dedicated to building products that make the world a better place. He got started building an eye controlled wheelchair for paralysed people, and then moved on to Oxygen Planner, an app that helps medical professionals budget oxygen in times of crisis. Since its release in late 2020, Oxygen Planner has grown to serve over 1700 users in medical facilities in over 110 countries, and continues to grow. He loves design thinking, as can be seen in his latest project, the Ingenuity Foundation, which provides schools all over the world with design thinking workshops and grants. Asanshay is also a TEDx speaker and avid photographer.

Zoya Haq is a passionate storyteller & educational policy advocate. As the president of HiStory Retold, a global, student-run initiative working to diversify history classrooms, Zoya advocates for curriculum inclusivity alongside more than 50 student leaders by drafting policy items, developing curriculum resources, & collaborating with legislators & educators. Zoya is also the founder of The Tahira Project, an initiative in memory of her grandmother working to improve global literacy through targeted fundraising. She has produced 2 short, oral-history based films focused on local organizing and has been recognized as an Ashoka Young Changemaker, Prudential Emerging Visionary, & Princeton Prize in Race Relations winner. She will study History at Yale this fall.

Rehman Hassan

Missouri city, tx.

Rehman is a passionate human rights advocate who has been recognized as a WHO Adolescent Champion (PMNCH), a UN NGO Representative & Young Ambassador, and a UN Refugee Agency Young Champion for their work with iCure, an organization they founded at the age of 11. iCure aims, across its 30+ international chapters that have helped 60,000 people, to improve public health access, education, and policy. Rehman additionally has extensive experience consulting for organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UN Human Rights, UN Women, and the governments of the UK, New Zealand, and European Union with over 17 first-authored papers. In the future, they hope to develop culturally competent policies to improve the well-being of underserved communities.

Athena Hernandez

San diego, ca.

Athena Hernandez strives to be a role model for other Latinas interested in exploring the world of technology. As the only Latina in her STEM classes, she decided to take the necessary steps toward change and founded Codificar con Coco (Coding with Coco; Coco is her middle name), where she works to bridge the Latine gap in technology one student at a time. Later on, Athena published “Como Codificar para Niñ@s: Una Introduccion a Python,” a 178-page Spanish-language book for teenage students who want to start coding. Through outreach, her book is now in many schools, libraries, and households across the US and Mexico. Athena’s passions have been recognized as an NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Winner and a Hispanic Heritage Foundation National Youth Awardee.

Carlos Hernandez Santiago

San marcos, ca.

Carlos Hernandez Santiago is passionate about bridging the gap between underrepresented students and the resources necessary to succeed in school and beyond. His experiences as a first-generation and immigrant student motivated him to take advantage of his education, while also teaching him the importance of an educationally equitable world. Through his leadership positions in school clubs, college access programs, and national non-profit organizations, Carlos has provided students with scholarship opportunities, college application workshops, a college fair, and much more. Additionally, Carlos hopes to work in environmental conservation after college and work for a non-profit organization or even create his own in order to support students like himself.

Katie Hewlett

Honeyville, ut.

Katie Hewlett has had leadership opportunities all over the US. First, KAtie was chosen to attend General Tommy Frank’s International Four-Star Leadership Program in Oklahoma. Second, she served as both HOBY and RYLA ambassadors. Katie has served as a state 4-H Ambassador and as a state 4-H FCS ambassador. She was also able to attend Georgia’s National Congress, the National Youth Summit Series in Washington DC, 4-H Nationals in Denver, and FBLA Nationals in Chicago. In addition, Katie started her own business called Creative Book Folding. This business works to save books from landfills by creating beautiful works of art out of recycled books. Finally, she started Monsters for Munchkins, a service club that has made and donated over 1000 felt monsters to hospitals.

Abigail Hu is an education equity advocate and a founder and Executive Director of Asian Youth for Civic Engagement (AYCE), an action organization that connects young AAPI students across the country to local campaigns and civic engagement opportunities. She has fought for and implemented the first Asian American Studies course taught in Louisiana and has organized national workshops on civic participation and inclusive history. She believes strongly in community-centered policy and has researched the impact of data and historical erasure in her city of New Orleans; she hopes to use this research as grounds for representative, compassionate, and equitable education everywhere. Abigail plans to study Education, Peace and Conflict, and Political Science in college.

Brookfield, WI

Erin is passionate about serving her community through her education. Dedicated to combatting the opioid epidemic, Erin has explored the multifaceted issue through conducting biomedical research at Marquette University and public policy. Erin is committed to optimizing mice models of addiction to produce more effective neurotherapies and to destigmatize addiction as a disease. As the Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin, she also focuses on empowering other young women through a holistic lens. Erin is co-president of Key Club, co-captain of the girl’s tennis team, and co-president of DECA. In college, Erin plans on studying neuroscience and global affairs to prepare for a career in expanding healthcare access.

Divine Irakiza

Bowling green, ky.

Divine is a Rwandan immigrant who has lived in various communities, influencing her deep passion for community. Her family founded the non-profit Foundation for Connecting Communities. FCC aims to connect disadvantaged community members with the resources needed for independence and success; Divine helps run the teen outreach program, manages the social media accounts, and other fills other roles. She is also a Student Ambassador, a Service Committee Chair for her Beta Club, the Editor-in-Chief of her school’s yearbook, a varsity starter on her lacrosse team, a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, and the founder of her small business. Divine hopes to become a sustainable civil engineer to facilitate in the augmentation and longevity of community structures.

Madhalasa Iyer

Madhalasa Iyer is an award-winning writer, environmentalist and researcher recognized by Discovery Education, EPA, Scholastic Art & Writing and YoungArts. Her literary works have been published in 22+ journals. Her children’s book & International initiative Motley (with 7 international chapters) have together received national awards for inclusion & diversity. She is also passionate about scientific research and her papers have been published in the IEEE and the Journal of Student Research. Aside from being an EarthX and TEDx speaker, she has presented her research at international conferences. Through her work, she seeks to raise the decibels of love to deafen the cacophony of hate and make a significant contribution to the world.

Rishab Jain

Portland, or.

Named one of “IME’s 25 Most Influential Teens,” Rishab Jain is a scientist and researcher who uses artificial intelligence to answer biological questions. Rishab has developed software tools for glioblastoma multiforme, sarcopenia, and pancreatic cancer to improve disease modeling, analysis, and treatment. His most notable work, ICOR, is an AI-based tool that enables rapid and cost-effective production of recombinant drugs through improved codon optimization. Jain serves as President of the “Samyak Science Society,” an organization dedicated to making science accessible to youth worldwide, especially for under-resourced communities. Rishab is also a YouTube Partner, creating content about student productivity and STEM research.

Mirika Jambudi

Basking ridge, nj.

Mirika Jambudi is the founder of BookOrators, a 501c(3) nonprofit that advocates for diverse voices in literature. She has recruited over 200 volunteers, hosted reading workshops internationally, established 15 chapters, and impacted more than 2000 youth. As co-chair of the National FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, Mirika has led members in promoting equity in preparedness, educating communities, and distributing 1,500+ resources. Her work has been recognized by the Princeton Prize for Race Relations, the Congressional Gold Award, and the Second Gentleman. Mirika also leads four publications at her school as editor-in-chief, researches rare diseases, and swims. In her free time, she loves to read and spend time outdoors. Mirika plans to attend Harvard University.

Raymond Jiang

Christian first, student second, Raymond Jiang is a student always waiting for the next adventure. He is one of the first ten founding volunteers at Schoolhouse.world, a free tutoring non-profit that currently serves over 10,000 students over Zoom. Outside of Schoolhouse.world, Raymond spends his time teaching math to his local community, leading the Jenks Math Club, captaining his archery team, and co-leading his Speech and Debate team. Raymond also serves as Senior Class President. In his free time, he enjoys engaging in his passions, including learning Russian, figure skating, and competing in math competitions, where he has qualified for the American Invitational Math Exam three times. Raymond plans to attend Harvard University in the fall.

Annie Johnson

Annie Johnson’s passion for creative writing has earned her honors from the NY Times, YoungArts, the Adroit Journal, and 20 Scholastic Keys. She believes that writing has the power to change the world, and strives to use this power to uplift marginalized voices, incite socioeconomic reform, and guide young adults through the challenges of modern society. In addition to her writing, Annie is a decorated clarinetist and drum major, Editor in Chief of her award winning high school literary magazine, and community advocate, making sandwiches for the homeless population of Columbus in her spare time. In her free time, Annie enjoys thrifting and binging reality TV. She plans on studying Literary Arts at Brown University in the fall.

Maya Joshi is the founder of Lifting Hearts with the Arts, a nonprofit connecting seniors and youth through long-term friendships. Bridging the art of conversation with the scientific study of aging and partnering with programs like the MIT Age Lab’s OMEGA initiative, she hopes her multidisciplinary approach can help maximize the impact of mutual intergenerational learning. Maya has also developed a neural network for age at death estimation of forensic skeletal remains and is currently designing bone regeneration implants. She plans to continue exploring the intersection of anthropology and osteology in college. In her free time, Maya enjoys photographing her dog Milo’s adventures and serving as her family’s ice cream aficionado.

Los Angeles, CA

Dohyun (Andy) Ju is a budding scientist, editor-in-chief, and clarinetist who strives to harness the power of technology to increase healthcare accessibility. As a founder of Open Hand, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting people with disabilities, Andy has formed partnerships with organizations such as the South Korean YMCA and the Angel City Games, a major adaptive sports event. He is also the LA Branch President of his local Leo Club chapter, spearheading free vision screening clinics, a Leo News Bulletin, and LA for Sight, a community-wide used glasses drive. Andy hopes to continue exploring the realm of precision medicine and data-driven clinical practice, in addition to his passions for community service and gastronomy.

Sara Kaufman

Sara Kaufman is determined to change the world through her work. A patented and published scientist, she has been named a Broadcom MASTER and NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Winner. In 2017, Sara founded Leon’s Roar, a nonprofit that enables high schoolers to lead each other as they combat isolation among cancer patients. An avid reader and poet, Sara’s love of service has also manifested itself in her writing. She published a children’s book in two languages and distributed it to schools and immigrants in emergency intake camps. Sara also founded her school’s science research club and coached five FIRST robotics teams. Passionate about STEAM, Sara plans to pursue an MD-PhD and lead a career in cardiac research as a biomedical engineer.

Riya Khatod

Santa monica, ca.

Riya Khatod is a social activist, change-maker, and community organizer dedicated to amplifying the voices of the marginalized, especially women. As an officer on the Girls Learn International (GLI) Regional Advisory Board, Riya oversees 252 chapters nationwide and liaises between GLI staff and thousands of student leaders. She is a delegate to the UN Commision on the Status of Women 65, 66, and 67, presenting to world leaders on human rights and gender equity. Riya was also selected to represent her high school of 3000 students on Congressman Lieu’s Youth Advisory Council, where she researched, analyzed, and advised the Congressman on bills affecting youth nationwide. In her free time, Riya enjoys playing soccer, running, and baking.

Jessica Kim

La canada, ca.

Jessica Kim finds joy in poetry, disability advocacy, and learning new things. Her poems are housed in POETRY Foundation, The Adroit Journal, and in her book “L(EYE)GHT” which explores the intersections between her Korean-American and vision-impaired identities. In the spirit of communal activism through art, she has been recognized as the runner-up for the US National Youth Poet Laureate, the former Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate, and a National YoungArts Writing Finalist. When Jessica is not performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC or The Broad Museum in LA, she hosts interdisciplinary workshops for disabled students with I-CREATE YOUTH, ranging from web-based programming to digital poetics. Despite it all, she’s studying computer science in college!

Los Alamos, NM

Yunseo is a leader dedicated to uplifting communities and plans to study International Relations to advocate for global equity. She founded her own initiative for refugees collecting thousands of school supplies, and as President of Rotary Interact, led projects packaging 100,000+ meals to fight food insecurity in NM. Ranked 8th in the nation and 4x State Champion, Yunseo serves as Co-President of her Speech & Debate team and holds nationally published work. She currently explores minority inclusion as a district Student Board Member and at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and formerly was a 2022 US Senate Youth Delegate, 2021 Model International Criminal Court Representative, and a Global Citizens Summit coordinator with UNICEF on Women’s Education in Afghanistan.

Reagan Koester

Wadesville, in.

As a social entrepreneur, inventor, published writer, founder, and leader, Reagan is devoted to her passions: social justice, youth development, and agriculture. She founded the three charities Ping Pong for Poverty, Fun for Foster Families, and Glam and Grit for Foster Teens focused on food insecurity, foster relocation, and foster teen perseverance. Reagan serves as president of seven school and community organizations and represents 163,000 youth as an Indiana State 4-H Ambassador. She is an ag advocate hosting youth, consumers, and state and national politicians on the family robotic dairy farm. She also designs national winning Agriscience Fair projects with immediate impact. Reagan will attend Purdue University in Ag Business with plans to attend law school.

Matt Krasnow

Bedford, ny.

Matt is a high-impact medical researcher and first responder. Through his work at New York Medical College, Matt is the first author of a research paper elucidating a new cause of growth hormone deficiency in children. He has published 8 research abstracts regarding endocrine diseases and has presented at ENDO, the premier international endocrine conference. Matt drives change in his community as a firefighter and EMT. He is the Recruit Leader of his fire department and a co-founder of the First Responders Club-endeavors aimed at training new teenage responders. Matt is the co-president of Science Olympiad, captain of cross country and track, and VP of a bilingual academic service. He is preparing 2 new research articles for publication.

Eshika Kudaravalli

Eshika Kudaravalli is a passionate leader who works to mitigate the socioeconomic barriers that harm the US healthcare system. As the Hope for Autumn Junior Board Foundation president, she has raised over $40,000 to fund research in innovative treatments for more than 500 families battling childhood cancer. Additionally, she is the founder and president of the Outstanding Women Leaders in STEM (OWLS), an organization that is dedicated to promoting female inclusion in the male-dominated field of STEM. In her school, she is the debate captain, STEM captain, and the CAS Coordinator in the International Baccalaureate Council. With interests in research and medicine, she has led several award-winning research projects and aspires to become a physician-scientist.

Sonya Kulkarni

Houston, tx.

Sonya Kulkarni is a diligent servant leader, published scientist and author, and change maker. As National Youth Ambassador for the American Cancer Society and researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she advocates for greater pediatric oncology research in Congress. Sonya is the Founder and CEO of STAAR Peers, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved students toward academic success and serves as a Legislative Advisory Committee Member of Houston ISD, representing 200,000 students. She is the two-year Executive Editor-in-Chief of her school’s newspaper and has written two books to help children understand genetics and hearing loss. Sonya endeavors to revolutionize the healthcare sector and promote scientific communication.

Sara Kumar is a social/civil rights activist dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities to create an equitable future for all. Through her work with UNICEF, Sara lobbies both regionally and nationally as she advocates for children’s rights. As a published author and founder of a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Sara strives to fight against preconceived prejudices and instead educate her peers on the positive influence of Greco-Roman antiquity on modern-day society. Passionate about promoting educational equity, Sara works with Harvard’s Education Redesign Lab and the Partnership for Resilience to develop sustainable solutions to ensure all children have the opportunity to succeed. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and creative writing.

Nishant Lahiri

Corning, ny.

Nishant Lahiri is a researcher and innovator passionate about sharing his interests with others around him. He founded iCART, a crowdsourced carbon capture technology that enables people to take responsibility for their own carbon footprint. Through his research at Cornell, he identified a material for iCART that has demonstrated industry-leading capture efficiencies. Nishant’s efforts have been recognized at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, where he won first place in the Chemistry category. He has shared this passion on two TEDx stages, speaking about climate technology in workplaces and the process of youth innovation and discovery. His goal is to develop accessible technologies that drive change and break barriers.

Birmingham, AL

Sophia Li is a driver of change – passionate about uplifting her community. As co-captain of her debate team, Sophia has led by example: being the most successful public forum team in her school’s history, ranking #1 in the state and top 10 in the nation. She utilizes her skills to lead debate camps, mentor students, and judge tournaments for underserved areas. As founder of Generation Speak, Sophia works to eradicate the fear of public speaking in youth. Her organization has received a $500 grant to further its efforts and published an online course with 700+ students. At her school, Sophia is the president of the Justice Club and Heritage Panel, spearheading projects and leading discussions to foster an inclusive environment for all.

Millie Liao

Rosemead, ca.

Millie Liao is an activist, actress, and social media influencer (check her out, @mildredsauce!). She’s worked with the ACLU of Southern California, international ad agency Intertrend, LA County Office of Education and 23+ organizations to establish systems of youth representation and uplift youth voices. She founded Youth Against Hate, a statewide coalition supporting 700+ campaigns for change led by youth activists, and leads The Art Hour, an international nonprofit providing free online arts education to 100k+ underprivileged students. She also starred in Charmers, a web series on Brat TV. In her free time, Millie writes weekly blogs, poetry, and short stories on her personal blog site With Love Millie, and haunts cafes in LA with a matcha latte in hand.

Kenmore, WA

Pinyu Liao is a scientist, blogger, and advocate for racial and educational justice. Since losing her grandmother to antibiotic resistance in 2019, she has worked on several initiatives to make a change in the antibiotic resistance crisis, from advocacy towards proper antibiotic usage with her documentary, “The Quest to Stop Antibiotic Resistance,” which was recognized by the World Health Organization, to researching antibiotic resistance using computational biology. As a first-generation immigrant, she is also passionate about STEM educational outreach through founding the blog, Lavender + Lab Coats, a website dedicated to sharing her journey as an aspiring biomedical scientist, while working in educational outreach as a public speaker.

Meaza Light-Orr

Born in southern Ethiopia and raised in SoCal, Meaza (Meazi) Light-Orr is a champion for education equity. She founded Kids for Kololo, raising over 100k to build a middle school in her birth village, Kololo, Ethiopia. The youngest ever intern at the LA Mayor’s office, Meazi has led fundraisers for former Congresswoman now mayor Karen Bass and serves as President of Congressman Ted Lieu’s Youth Advisory Council. She is an active leader in her school’s Black Student Union, MUN, and Environmental Education Program. She is a published author in the anthology Lion’s Roaring, Far From Home, and she will attend Northwestern’s Weinberg School of Arts and Sciences as a Posse Scholar this fall.

Jean is the Founder and CEO of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Leaders Across the World (LATW), an organization dedicated to developing culturally competent leaders. Jean has led multiple initiatives impacting thousands across 55+ countries and secured $10,000+ grant funding. Beyond LATW, Jean is a Bezos Scholar, an honor awarded to 12 youths annually in the US. Additionally, Jean serves as a 4x State Officer for the Future Business Leaders of America, and a 2x National Council Director, serving 250,000+ youth. Recently, Jean has been selected as 1 of 5 individuals to serve on Google’s Global Youth Council, partaking in a research and co-creation program. Jean is a Diana Award recipient, National Merit Finalist, and FBLA National Champion.

Grace Magny-Fokam

Glenn dale, md.

Grace Magny-Fokam is an advocate for equitable education and pan-African empowerment. As the Co-Founder of Teaching Africa, an organization that aims to educate the next generation about Africa, she’s held dozens of workshops, teaching K-12 students about the Pan-African diaspora’s history and diverse cultures. The organization has garnered worldwide notoriety, including being sponsored by the Smithsonian Museum of African Art. Grace is also an accomplished researcher, having conducted award-winning computer vision research at top universities and presented her work at international conferences, including one at MIT. As the first engineer in her family, Grace aspires to continue her work in scientific research and educational advocacy in college.

Maggie McGinnis

Appleton, wi.

Driven to demystify democracy, Maggie McGinnis publishes bi-weekly articles and podcast episodes as the founder and editor-in-chief of Smart Voter. She created Wisconsin’s Voter Education and Registration Program which aims to improve civic literacy and increase voter turnout across high schools. Additionally, raising $6000 and hundreds of donation items, she started a student-led campaign against rural domestic violence. She is the recipient of the Making Democracy Work Award, the captain of her varsity tennis and soccer teams, a tennis state champion, and a Great World Text Scholar. In college, she will study Public Policy and Psychology-fusing her interests to further explore the cognitive phenomena responsible for political polarization.

Anna McPherson

Winston-salem, nc.

As an avid leader with a variety of interests, Anna has found her calling in the realms of clinical medicine and health policy. Through her involvement in the National Institute of Health STEP-UP research program, Anna first-authored and published an endocrinology research manuscript. As a National Youth Advocate for Y-USA, she enlisted congressional support for legislation to provide equitable healthcare and medical resources to rural + less-privileged areas of the US. Anna is also the founder of one of the first female Boy Scout troops and one of the first females to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. An All-State runner at Calvary Day School, Anna serves as the Ethics Club President, Varsity Cross Country + Track Team Captain, and Youth and Government President.

Vinayak Menon

Suwanee, ga.

Serving as the captain of the USA National Debate Team, Vinayak leads 12 of the best debaters in the nation to compete in international debate tournaments. He is a passionate advocate for substance use prevention. Vinayak recently represented the US as the sole youth delegate at the 66th Session of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna. He’s been nationally recognized for combating the opioid crisis and distributing over 10,000 drug deactivation kits to destroy 1 million unused opioids in Georgia. He also helped support over 20,000 students interested in business and entrepreneurship as the State Vice President of Georgia’s Future Business Leaders of America. In college, he plans on double majoring in government and economics.

Ariona Miller

Marysville, ks.

Ariona Miller is a student in rural Kansas. After withstanding intense homophobia, Ari founded a GSA at her school. Along with participating in 8+ school clubs, she is on the GLSEN National Student Council, a student ambassador for her local Democratic Party, a student liaison on her local arts cooperative board, interns at her local newspaper, moderates local government events, and works two jobs. Her favorite activity is forensics, where she is nationally ranked in persuasive speaking. Ari is an emancipated minor. After encountering financial barriers because of her identity, she created the first financial assistance program for emancipated minors. Ari is attending Duke University in the fall where she will major in Political Science and minor in Journalism.

Joey Misailidis

Honolulu, hi.

Joey Misailidis is passionate about working towards environmental justice through community-based initiatives rooted in cultural knowledge. To address the lack of accessible environmental leadership education in Hawai’i, Joey co-founded Operation Leadership Hawai’i in 2018. Joey is also involved in the Re-Earth Initiative, a youth-led environmental NGO working to make the climate movement accessible to all. She is a recipient of the President’s Environmental Youth Award, the Yale Bassett Award for Community Engagement, and the Cameron Impact Scholarship. In her free time, Joey loves to swim and spend time in the ocean. She will be attending Cornell University to study environmental engineering.

Anisha Musti

Edgemont, ny.

Anisha is committed to improving the lives of others with technology. After recognizing the quantum workforce shortage, she founded Q-munity, a startup that provides “no-prerequisites” quantum education. Her work led to her speaking at over 60 conferences, including The Economist and Evoke. Among her research endeavors are a fellowship at Google X, co-authoring the first student-focused quantum textbook, and publishing papers at NYU and Brookhaven Lab. Furthermore, Anisha built Mwana, an app that helps mothers breastfeed in Nigeria and Kenya, tackling under-5 mortality. She is also captain of her school’s debate team and was ranked #1 in the US for the 2021-22 season. In her free time, she loves to scuba dive and play field hockey.

Anish Nadella

Hawthorn woods, il.

Anish Nadella is a community leader, researcher, and advocate for healthcare reform. As a biomedical student researcher at both Yale and UChicago, summer medical intern at Northwestern, and lead-volunteer at Elara Caring Hospice he works to drive healthcare innovations for the future. At school and in the community, he serves as the Vice-President of Illinois HOSA (and 2022 International Champion in Leadership), Eagle Scout and Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts, Varsity Epee Fencing Captain, KIVA President, and USG for Stevenson’s MUN team. In his free time, he enjoys listening to Don Toliver, watching the NFL, and playing Crossy Road. Anish plans to study a combination of public health, computer science, and/or business management in college.

Gabriel Nagel

Gabriel Nagel is an entrepreneurial social and climate justice advocate. His environmental policy passed across 200 schools, impacting 92,000 students. He founded the nonprofit Light CO2, which launched a carbon footprint tracking app and planted 10,000+ trees. Gabriel advanced the first Student Bill of Rights as director of the Superintendent Cabinet, provided financial literacy programs to 70,000 students as chair of the Young Americans Bank Board, and managed a $40 million budget as Denver’s sustainability advisory councilor. In addition to being featured on NPR twice, he spoke at NYC Climate Week, where he won the International Climate Cadet Award. At Stanford, Gabriel aims to expand his impact globally through international relations.

Alana Nahabedian

Las vegas, nv.

Alana Nahabedian is an Armenian-American passionate about humanitarian work and civic engagement, creating avenues for youth to foster worldly change. In her pursuit of worldwide Armenian genocide recognition, Alana founded the Armenian Youth Council, an organization operating as a united force for Armenian youth to advocate for the security of Armenia and its diaspora. Alana is the President of her Speech & Debate team and NHS Chapter, serves on the Board of Directors at SOAR LV and EntrepreYOUership, and founded the first UNA-USA Chapter in Nevada. Alana plans to major in International Relations with a focus on genocide studies and aspires to become the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. to ensure that “Never Again” truly is never again.

Arjun Nargolwala

Southborough, ma.

Arjun Nargolwala is an Indian-American entrepreneur and leader. As the Founder & CEO of KidsCapital International, a global non-profit organization committed to solving youth financial illiteracy, he has created a measurable impact on the issue, providing programs for over 5,000 students in more than 20 locations worldwide. Additionally, he serves as a co-founder of Sidereal LLC, an algae-based biofuel technology startup committing to revolutionizing the alternative energies market. Outside of entrepreneurship, he engages in machine learning and economic policy research, as well as leads many business & technology-related clubs and teams. He plans on completing a dual degree in economics & computer science, with hopes of becoming a successful tech entrepreneur.

Sean Nesamoney

Atherton, ca.

Sean Nesamoney is an interdisciplinary civic leader who is passionate about harnessing the power of technology and music to innovate new frontiers in human cognitive health. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Voices for Hope, a concert that raised $25,000 for mental health support, shed light on the impact of COVID-19 on teen wellness, and empowered youth to harness creativity for mental well-being. Sean was also recently recognized as a Regeneron STS Scholar for his research paper titled “Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents with Mental Illness.” Sean hopes to continue innovating at the intersection of cognitive science, technology, and music to improve healthcare accessibility and craft novel approaches to the most pressing issues.

Vivian Nguyen

Arlington, tx.

Vivian Nguyen was named one of the “Six Teens Making the World a Better Place” by FORBES Magazine in 2022. She is the founder and CEO of Dyenosaur Apparel, intertwining social entrepreneurship with civic action to uplift marginalized communities through intersectional activism. Through her mentorship program, The Formula Project 501(c)(3), Vivian strives to build the scaffolding for minority low-income girls to develop interpersonal, STEM, and career skills. At a STEM magnet school, Vivian is Valedictorian, Student Body President, Chairman of the STEM Leadership Conference, and a U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate. On weekends, Vivian conducts research at MIT on image recognition and biometrics in the Earth Systems and Signals department.

Emily Ocasio

Fairfax, va.

Emily is a social justice advocate and believes in the intersection between social science and emerging technology. Emily is dedicated to increasing accessible STEM education and is the CEO of the Girls Computing League (501c3 non profit) which has raised $150,000 and impacted 5000 students to date. Emily was selected by a college to help rewrite the syllabus for an Intro to Social Work class to include more antiracist readings. She is doing research on how imperialism has affected Puerto Rican youth. Emily won 2nd place and a $175,000 scholarship at the Regeneron Science Talent Search for her project that used AI to show that young black men were 30 percentage points less likely to receive humanizing coverage in historic newspapers.

Winifred Ofori-Manu

Winifred is a diligent advocate for computing and social equity motivated by her interest in government, community, and computer science. She has worked as a Public Health Researcher on Chicago’s Mayor Commission, a Peer Juror for the Chicago Police Department’s Alternative Policing Strategy initiative, and a Community Data Scientist for advocacy for Chicago’s west and south-side communities. Co-Founder and President of both “Girls Who Code” and “KenTech,” she has cultivated and sustained a needed community for those interested in CS at her school. Winifred hopes to address international disparities in the global distribution of technology, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, through her studies of sociology and computer science in college.

Scottsdale, AZ

Zack Okun, a natural changemaker, founded STEMducate, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works with 7,000+ students in 11+ countries and 24+ US states by offering various STEM-focused programs, competitions, and resources. Aside from being class valedictorian, Zack is also president of his school district’s student advisory board; president of his school’s robotics team, science national honor society, and advanced placement student association; and treasurer of his school’s student government and ambassador program; among other extracurriculars. He is the 2023 AZ DECA State Champion for Business Law and Ethics. He holds a 3rd-degree black belt in martial arts. Zack is an avid public speaker who is destined to better the world as a future Engineer.

Titilope Olotu

Sacramento, ca.

My name is Titilope Olotu. I am a Turkish, Bollywood, and K drama connoisseur. More importantly, I am a Nigerian immigrant since 2015. I am an advocate for the San Juan Unified District, a proud California Girl State (GO FOLTZ), and the founder of the Veteran Volunteering Club, which raised over $1000 for veteran hospitals in Sacramento. Nigeria has imbedded a love for service to the community in me, as I volunteer with HOSA, Red Cross, UNICEF, the Sacramento Food Bank, and more. I am an activities director at Midtown Elderly Home, a teacher intern, a researcher, and a fast food worker. I advocate against underrepresentation and societal shame against women. I am a survivor, but no young girl deserves to live through such. I am grateful for this honorary title.

Ella Paligo

Goodlettsville, tn.

Ella Paligo’s passion for public health and breaking barriers led her to execute two initiatives, “Be A Hero, Drop Vaping To Zero” and “Operation Second Chance.” With these, she passed a universal vaping prevention policy at her school board, partnered with Governor Lee to declare April “Anti-Vaping Month” in Tennessee, and developed a curriculum that connected seventy incarcerated individuals to second-chance employers. Additionally, Ella has served as President of Beta, DECA, and Key Club while securing internships with the ACLU and DA’s Office. Her honors include: 2022 Youth Advocate of the Year, Girls Nation Nominee, Princeton Prize in Race Relations Certificate Winner, and United States Senate Youth Program Delegate. Ella plans to study law and run for public office.

McKinley Paltzik

McKinley Paltzik is a national champion in Speech and Debate and is committed to using her voice to uplift others. Through her organization, Kidz 4 Causes, McKinley has helped to raise over $200,000 for rare disease research at the T-Gen Center for Rare Childhood Diseases. She is the Director of the Extemper’s Bible, a nonprofit dedicated to creating ubiquitously accessible resources for debate education and equity. Following an influx of refugees after the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, McKinley has also worked to provide free tutoring resources and support to children in refugee schools in her home state of Arizona. McKinley is passionate about international relations, her dogs, and Starbucks Strawberry-Açaí Refreshers.

Saehee Perez

Saehee Perez is a community organizer from northern Virginia. She has led the passage of legislation that grants students an excused absence for civic engagement with the Virginia Young Democrats. She has also published a Washington Post op-ed, organized statewide walkouts with over 10,000 students, and developed a legislative agenda to protect Queer youth with the Pride Liberation Project, the biggest student-led Queer advocacy group in Virginia. Saehee has worked on six campaigns, studied Chinese abroad through a U.S. State Department scholarship, and helped restock menstrual products at school. She plans to study American or international government, learn three more languages, and eventually have a career in public service.

Madeline Phuong

Fort wayne, in.

A 2021 Subaru Community Champion and 2022 Indiana Philanthropy Outstanding Youth Achievement Awardee, Madeline Phuong founded A Second Chance to raise $13,000+ for animal nonprofits from the sale of her art. These funds support accessible pet care for the elderly and veterans, heartworm treatment for shelter dogs, and vaccine clinics. Madeline has 30+ Scholastic Art & Writing awards and had a 2022 solo art exhibit at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. At Homestead High School, she promotes the values of the arts, community service, and the spoken and written word as Art Club President, Key Club President, Speech & Debate Team Captain, and Senior Editor of the publication, Spartana. She will study government, philosophy, and art at Harvard University.

Roberto Quesada

New york, ny.

Roberto Quesada is an activist from New York City who focuses on equality in the United States, Latin America, and the world. In 2022, his work on Latino rights garnered him the prestigious Yale Bassett Award for Community Engagement. He also discusses social issues through his art, which has been displayed at both the US Capitol and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Quesada has extensive political experience, having interned for Majority Leader Schumer as part of the Senate Page Program. There, he worked with Vice President Harris and met President Biden. Outside of politics, Roberto is a nationally-ranked debater and a member of the USA Debate Team. He hopes to inspire more Latinos to pursue their dreams and fight for change.

Shiva Rajbhandari

Shiva Rajbhandari is a senior at Boise High and an Idaho climate justice activist. In 2022, he became the first student to be elected to the Boise School District Board of Trustees where he is an advocate for mental health, climate action, and student empowerment. Shiva is also involved in a variety of youth-led organizations including BABE VOTE, Youth Salmon Protectors, and the Idaho Climate Justice League. Shiva runs varsity cross country and track for his school and currently works as the Youth Engagement Coordinator at the Idaho Conservation League. In his spare time, Shiva loves to run, ski, and fish with his friends in wild Idaho.

Gitanjali Rao

Lone tree, co.

Gitanjali Rao is an inventor, an aspiring scientist, author, speaker and an active promoter of innovation around the world. She was recognized as America’s Top Young Scientist, a recipient of an EPA Presidential award and Forbes 30 U 30 for her patented invention of an innovative lead contamination detection tool. Gitanjali is also the inventor of “Epione”-a device for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering, and “”Kindly””-an anti-cyberbullying service using AI and Natural Language processing. She was featured on the cover of TIME for her innovations and STEM workshops she conducts globally, which has inspired over 72,000 students in 44 countries.

Tejas Raxwal

Tejas Raxwal is dedicated to make change in the global water crisis, having founded H2O 365, a nonprofit aimed to provide fresh water globally and educate communities about water scarcity. Tejas is equally passionate about global peace and has worked tirelessly to spread his message of unity, even traveling to war-torn Ukraine last summer to continue his efforts. He is also providing virtual medical care to underserved areas, demonstrating his commitment to creating a better world. As a medical researcher, he is revolutionizing the future of medicine through his research in coronary physiology. In his spare time, Tejas likes competitive swimming and enjoys challenging his friends to a lively game of Gaga ball.

Ahmya Rivera

Elizabeth city, nc.

Ahmya Rivera is a trailblazer within S.T.E.A.M. educational equity. As a self-starter and personable leader with a passion for serving under-served youth, particularly minority and rural students, she created “STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book.” The book’s innovative approach to interactive education and multicultural representation has turned it into a teachers’ favorite worldwide. Ahmya is also a Lead Intern for the NC Department of Public Instruction and Executive Director for the federal-funded #IAmComputerScience campaign, where she spearheads accessible opportunities NC-wide. Collectively, she has impacted 100,000+ people with S.T.E.A.M. topics. For her jobs, she creates coding curricula for 300,000 students and mentors 70 students on app development.

Rachel Rochford

Waterford, mi.

Rachel Rochford is committed to making an impact on the world through her passion for international relations, economics, and the Russian language. In her local community, Rachel founded Coats for Kids, which provides winter coats, hats, and gloves to elementary students in need. At school, she serves as Editor-in-Chief, Econ Club President, and an NHS board member. Globally, Rachel strives to foster new connections between the U.S. and Central Asia: she spent her last summer living in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, while studying Russian with the State Department’s NSLI-Y program. As a Girl Security Fellow, Rachel also authored a National Security Strategy, which focused on minimizing youth recruitment into domestic terror groups on social media.

Alexis Rodriguez

San francisco, ca.

Alexis is a youth leader and Executive Director of The San Francisco Citywide Black Student Union. Passionate about improving the lives of the Black community, she supports Black youth and addresses issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, and violence. Alexis studied at The African Leadership Academy in South Africa, where she gained a unique cultural exchange and enhanced her ethical thinking skills, leadership development, and political awareness. She intends to study Political Sciences and Africana Studies at an HBCU, aiming to become an International and Human Rights Lawyer.

Prajwal Saokar

Prajwal Saokar is a passionate researcher, entrepreneur, and advocate for ethics in technological innovation. Through his AI technology company, SLAP Systems, Prajwal is working to combat violence in his community, with his work receiving recognition at MIT and the NeurIPS conference. As someone deeply interested in policymaking, Prajwal has also been ranked #1 nationally in Public Forum Debate and captained his team for two years. He has pursued his interests in policy and technology in tandem as a Director for the CoVisualize Team at Harvard and by working with the Association for Computing and Machinery to develop tech policy proposals for leaders in the field. In his free time, Prajwal enjoys basketball, building electronics, and hiking.

Little Rock, AR

Neil Sash is a high-impact leader and innovator, who enjoys amplifying community voices to create change. He is the captain of the Debate and Quiz Bowl Team, Vice President of the Student Honor Council, and a varsity tennis athlete for four years. Outside of the classroom, Neil continues his work. He is the Founder and President of the Global Kindness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated toward his goal of global educational equity through mentoring and online tutoring to better help underserved students. He is an active voice for the Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts and a delegate at the 2022 United States Senate Youth Program. In the future, Neil is excited to continue his work, helping people become the best versions of themselves.

Sharvaa Selvan

Sharvaa Selvan is the founder of KLOOPS, a nonprofit organization motivating kids to learn through self-paced tools. He has distributed 1,000 activity placemats throughout Florida and India to teach young children the fundamentals of protecting themselves. As a passionate mathematician, Sharvaa also serves as Vice President of the Mu Alpha Theta National Honor Society. He works with over 100,000 students to encourage a passion for mathematics while educating members on scholarship opportunities, fundraising ideas, and ways to grow their own local math teams. At school, Sharvaa is president of his Science Bowl team, captain of his Public Forum Debate Team, and a member of the Florida All-State Guitar Ensemble.

Naperville, IL

Joel Setya is a passionate leader who works to make a difference, dedicated to creating impacts that’ll ripple throughout society. As the Executive Director for STEM & Buds, an international nonprofit organization in sixteen regions across four countries dedicated to empowering over 4000 students through STEM and fostering meaningful relationships, he facilitates an inclusive environment for young individuals to learn from inspiring mentors. At school, he serves as the President of SkillsUSA, CIMUN Model UN, Medical Club, chess team captain, and on his Student Council. Additionally, he enjoys conducting groundbreaking research, particularly in cancer and other fields of medicine, and plans to study psychology and public health, eventually becoming a physician.

Cerritos, CA

Ayush is a zealous changemaker and leader striving to combat health inequity and homelessness. As the founder of Operation Christmas, he has raised over $10,000 for families unable to receive free or reduced lunch during winter break. Ayush also initiated his podcast, Everything Ends in Ology, to help aspiring physicians become familiar with the vast world of unknown medical departments beyond their ending in “ology.” Through volunteering in palliative care to honor his grandpa and starting community projects, he has addressed problems including loneliness in end-of-life care, cultural representation, and public health; now, he strives to reduce infant mortality rates in underserved communities as he works to become a pediatric physician.

Razanne Shoukfeh

Lubbock, tx.

Razanne Malki Shoukfeh is an innovative community leader and driven change-maker devoted to promoting suicide prevention, sustainability, improving educational inequities, and inspiring optimism. She enhances her community through her MIT Launch X Company, Entrepreneurship Club, and Climate Activist Organization, all of which she founded and leads. By linking people with volunteerism, she inspires the city’s youth to make a difference as the president of the Volunteer Center of Lubbock’s Youth for Impact Non-Profit Program and the Head Tutor of Robins Nest Non-Profit. She collaborates with Sunflowers over Suicide and AFSP to empower those like her who have been affected by suicide. Razanne instills change and works to create a more powerful and inclusive community.

D'Schon Leon Simmons

Corpus christi, tx.

D’Schon Simmons currently serves as the National President for Business Professionals of America (BPA). With being the National President of a Career and Technical Student Organization, D’Schon is challenged with the initiative to serve and represent the interests of the more than 40,000 high school members and ensure the multi-million dollar nonprofit organizational needs are being met. D’Schon Simmons will graduate with, both, his high school diploma from West Oso High School as Salutatorian of his class and Associate’s Degree of Liberal Arts from Del Mar College. His postsecondary education will extend with his attendance to the Class of 2027 at Princeton University majoring in Politics and minoring in Entrepreneurship, which will lead him into law school.

Harjasan Singh

Oak creek, wi.

Harjasan Singh is a political activist, community builder and change-maker. After the Sikh Temple Shooting, he founded the Sikh Youth Association, setting the nonprofit’s direction to empower Sikh youth in 10+ states, exposing thousands of high school students to his culture and religion. In bringing more representation to his community, Harjasan was selected as the first Sikh delegate from Wisconsin at the United States Senate Youth Program. He also serves as the regional president for the Wisconsin Association of School Councils, in which he has donated over 2,500 items to his community. Motivated by his background and as a first-generation student, he plans to major in government & economics, utilizing his future political office to make a dent in global poverty.

Marysville, OH

Reya uses her voice and platform to uplift marginalized communities and lead with empathy. After realizing the lack of space for Asian voices of all different backgrounds, she founded Our Asian Heroes, where she interviews doctors, artists, and more, to share their stories and experiences (now with over 10,000 views). In a family of immigrants, she sees the struggles that immigrants face in opportunities for wealth acquisition, access to healthcare, and beyond. She started the Dear Asian Youth and Junior State of America chapter at her school, where she immerses her peers in topics surrounding political and civil rights. She is also an intern with Harvard Law Professor, Jon Hanson, and helps publish articles about corporate law and power in the [F]law Magazine.

Vinaya Sivakumar

Vinaya Sivakumar is a social entrepreneur, political activist, and community mobilizer. She has reenvisioned responses to the youth digital addiction crisis as the founder of Heads Up, a nonprofit encouraging teens to live more digitally-balanced lifestyles, and as a lobbyist in the Senate and California state legislature. Vinaya has also used her Indian heritage to spark community dialogue by founding Project Atharv, a nonprofit preserving ancient Indic culture, and Girl Up CIRS, a club advocating for gender equity with Indic ideologies. Vinaya plans to major in Computer Science and Philosophy to understand the growing influence of technology on society and to redesign technology to be more humane.

Hayden Slade

Ellwood city, pa.

Hayden Slade is the co-founder and co-director of Games to Give, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides board games to children in need, cancer patients, and deployed US troops. Hayden is also an Eagle Scout and an elected member of his church’s council. He has spent many hours working in service to his community and has learned that one of the most rewarding things in life is serving others and affecting their lives in a positive way. He is an eight-year Carson Scholar and was the winner of the 2022 DAR’s Outstanding Youth Service Award for both Pennsylvania and DAR’s Northeast Region. In his free time he enjoys playing board games, backpacking, and sailing. In the fall, Hayden plans to study computer science and mathematics.

Will Smialek

Will is an activist dedicated to pursuing social change and empowering youth in his local community, state, and across the US. During the pandemic, Will co-created a national organization called National Youth Cohorts, which was a space for students from across the US to continue to have conversations about political and social issues in a time of social isolation. Will has also worked on 2 different US Senate Campaigns, helping elect a current US Senator. In Junior year, Will created the idea of adding student representation to his district’s Board of Education and now serves in the permanent position of Student Board Member. Will is also an Eagle Scout for his efforts in addressing food insecurity, and a proud member of CU’s National Youth Collaboratory YC6.

Colin Snyder

Fairless hill, pa.

Colin is dedicated to advocacy for equitable change through storytelling. Colin founded Doane Academy’s Queer-Straight Alliance(QSA) in order to provide a safe space for all students to share their own stories, and to listen and learn from others. Through which, he launched his school’s first Pride celebration. Colin serves on Joon’s National Student Advisory Board to advocate for and destigmatize discussions regarding mental health in highschool students. He is an exectutive memeber on Voters of Tomorrow’s New Jersey chapter in which he promotes democracy and equity in New Jersey’s politics. Colin plans to continue to seek opportunities to give back by carrying on Coca-Cola’s mission of life long learning that leads to equitable change.

Sahil Sood is a patent-pending scientist, having published 4 papers on groundbreaking research, including a novel treatment for COVID-19 that received international recognition. Simultaneously, he’s an avid debater, ranked #1 nationally in Public Forum. Sahil converged both his interests in science and communication by dedicating himself to bridging inequities in STEM education, hosting a UN education summit and building a nonprofit that provided $101K to 33K students globally. As HOSA’s International Vice President, he facilitates health education for 280K students, an endeavor he aspires to continue as a physician. When he’s not wearing his lab coat, he’s a sports enthusiast and cheese fanatic. Sahil will attend Harvard College next year.

Cam Srivastava

Spartanburg, sc.

Cam did not expect a ninth grade science fair project to change his life. His aim was to learn the basic science behind heart valve disease, but he quickly learned that whether patients received the latest treatment depended on their race. This inequality bothered him, and he made it a goal that everyone would be treated equally by the healthcare system. This experience also changed his perception of science; behind each data point on a chart or graph is a person with a family who deserves to be treated fairly. At school, Cam is Student Body President, and is a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Track team. In his spare time, Cam is an active political volunteer and enjoys watching sports, particularly his beloved Atlanta Braves!

Brooke Stanley

Menomonee falls, wi.

As a passionate healthcare professional and servant leader, Brooke Stanley is devoted to improving the lives of those around her and changing the world one patient at a time. She does this by treating whoever walks in the door without judgment or hesitation as an emergency department technician and helping medical students improve their interpersonal skills as a standardized patient. Within these roles, Brooke desires to shine the light of Christ, as her faith directs all that she does. Brooke will attend Milwaukee School of Engineering as a Biomolecular Engineering major on a pre-med track. She hopes to become an emergency medicine physician who cares about her patients beyond their medical diagnosis.

Nora Sun is a passionate changemaker tackling complex problems at the intersection of science and society. As the founder of Talaria Summer Institute, ENVISION Research Competition, and ATHENA By Women In STEM, she creates scientific research opportunities for underrepresented high school students. Nora has been named a Global Teen Leader and a member of Disney Dreamers Academy, and she was a speaker at the 77th United Nations General Assembly. As a scientist, she has attended the Michigan State University HSHSP and Boston University RISE research programs. As a storyteller, her creative and journalistic writing, which appear in numerous publications worldwide, have received over 40 regional and national Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Wency Suo is the co-founder of the Idaho AAPI Youth Alliance, a nonprofit organization that fosters connections between AAPI youth in Idaho through community events. In addition to her nonprofit work, Wency is the co-campaign manager for Representative Sue Chew’s campaign, where she led a team of over 30 middle and high school students to secure a victory in the 2022 Idaho midterm elections. Wency is also a dedicated scientific research, with a focus on drug discovery and drug repurposing for COVID-19. Her work has been recognized at national and international science fairs. Wency hopes to bridge the gap between technological innovation and public policy in the future by studying computer science and political science.

Maraki Tamrat

Ann arbor, mi.

Maraki Tamrat is an Ethiopian-American who is an avid advocate for reproductive rights and the environment. She is the President of Planned Parenthood of Michigan’s Youth Led Program and a member of Earth Echo International, a 501(c)(3). From lobbying on Capitol Hill to meeting with Michigan’s State legislatures, she strives to make a difference. Maraki plays an active role in her community and is dedicated in working to eliminate a wide variety of social issues that impact communities of color. She is Student Body Vice President and the leader of her high school’s Black Student Union. Having grown up in Vienna, Austria, Maraki also works to lessen language barriers through her english classes for both Amharic & German speaking individuals.

Sahith Tanuboddi

Sahith Tanuboddi is the founder of Youth STEM Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing computer workshops and providing educational resources to underserved children to break through stereotypes by running clubs, competitions, and events. Sahith’s innovative spirit and dedication to empowering underserved children have established him as a true leader in his community, demonstrating the power of education and hard work. He intends to major in Finance. In his free time, Sahith enjoys reading comic books, baking with family, and exploring with friends. Through his passion for STEM and community service, Sahith is making a positive impact in the lives of young people and inspiring others to pursue their dreams.

Lynn is passionate about pioneering medical advancement and advocating for educational equity. An RSI and Regeneron Scholar, Lynn has developed a breast cancer risk detection framework to advance early detection and optimized a protein prediction model for drug discovery. She founded TeensHelpKids, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and leads her school’s STEMbassadors program to bring educational initiatives and resources to underserved communities. Lynn has been honored with the Congressional Award Gold Medal and the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She is also a 2x USABO National Finalist and captains her school’s Biology Olympiad Club. In her free time, she loves playing violin and crocheting. Lynn will attend Harvard University in the fall.

Griffin Taylor

Warwick, ri.

Griffin is a senior from Pilgrim High School in Rhode Island who prides himself in being a leader throughout multiple communities. In his high school, Griffin serves as the class president and the leader of several clubs such as robotics and Best Buddies. In the Cystic Fibrosis community, Griffin is the founder of the Salty Scholar tutoring service and a member of Team Boomer. Outside of academics, Griffin is an avid lacrosse player and nationally ranked squash athlete, recently playing in the United States Junior Open this past winter. As a representative of Rhode Island, Griffin has attended the United States Senate Youth Program as well as Boys Nation. He will play squash and study CS-Applied Math next fall semester at Brown University.

Gianna Thomas

Middletown, ct.

Gianna is an impactful leader in health equity and public policy making strides across her state as she leads community efforts to increase community involvement in policies pertaining to public health. Throughout the pandemic, Gianna has also been a vocal activist in epidemiology and virology with her publication of research related to tracking the next pandemic in harmful environmental occurrences. She is also a changemaker in education, working closely with her Superintendent to effectively innovate STEM curriculum, teaching models, and mandates during the pandemic across all schools in her district. This fall, Gianna will attend Yale University and plans to become a Doctor of Infectious Disease.

Nora VanRees

Vancouver, wa.

Nora VanRees is a dedicated changemaker. As the Founder and President of Here N Queer, an international youth organization, Nora advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights. Nora has developed global programs to help queer youth access thousands of resources. Nora serves as the President of Magnify Wellness, a nonprofit committed to raising awareness about youth mental health. Nora is passionate about equitable education, serving as the founding chair of the Vancouver Public Schools Student Advisory Committee and the school district’s first equity intern. Additionally, Nora makes an impact by saving hundreds of lives through Red Cross blood drives, improving ELL literacy with local tutoring programs, and helping youth in the aftermath of trauma as a volunteer with TIPNW.

Sanjana Velu

Passionate about equity and accessibility, Sanjana Velu is an avid leader, collaborator, and change-maker in her community. She founded the Future Forward Initiative, a project dedicated to reducing educational disparities in the Cincinnati area through the implementation of a free peer tutoring program and the donation of basic school supplies to local school districts. Sanjana also sits on the American Red Cross National Youth Council as the Co-Field Ambassador Lead and works as a clinical research intern studying perioperative genomics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, through which she has worked to advance medicine’s power in both a societal and technical sense. She aspires to become a physician and continue making a positive impact in the world.

Maya Vendhan

Highlands ranch, co.

Maya Vendhan is a passionate advocate for equality in STEM and a curious researcher. In hopes that her generation will one day see equality in STEM fields, Maya created Girls STEM Academy, a nonprofit to encourage girls to enter STEM. Her initiatives include distributing books featuring diverse leaders in STEM to schools, connecting students with female mentors, and creating online content such as a TEDx talk. In addition, Maya has conducted neuroscience research through the Research Science Institute, focusing on identifying the root cause of Parkinson’s disease and potential target areas in the brain for future therapies. In her free time, she enjoys singing in choir, choreographing Bollywood dances, and following NBA games.

Ananya Vinay

Ananya Vinay is a passionate writer, poet & podcaster. She is a social entrepreneur & advocates for educational equity. As the 2017 National Spelling Bee Champion, she founded SpellGenius, an organization that mentors aspiring spellers. Using her coaching income, she founded Project Ignite, an educational equity initiative to ignite the passion for early learning in rural Fresno. She is a member of the first-ever Student Advisory Team at PBS NewsHour. Ananya is the author of the poetry collection “Dewdrops on the Mind”. She is the science editor for The Iris. Ananya is a 2-time USABO Semifinalist as well as a 3-time Chemistry Olympiad & Science Bowl National Finalist. She plans to major in neuroscience and public policy as an aspiring physician.

Lucas Wagner

Lucas Wagner is a public policy advocate, community leader, and relentless optimist. He innovates at the intersection of his interests-economics, computer science, and government-in service of his community, transforming political systems into kinder, more accessible ones. As MN Chair and National Data Director for the HS Democrats, Lucas pursues change through common ground-the same spirit that’s landed him hearings with legislative committees and F500 companies. He’s also staffed statewide and local political campaigns, served in elected offices for his state party and an education nonprofit, and leads activities ranging from mock trial to quiz bowl. To kickstart a career defined by service and lifelong learning, Lucas plans to study economics and public policy.

Sophie Wang

Fort collins, co.

Sophie Wang is an ardent STEM outreach advocate and researcher. Post-pandemic, she organized academic programs in her school, which raised funds to support her community. Her interest in biology propelled her to develop cell lines expressing single-molecule protein misfolding reporters at the Stasevich Lab. She was also recognized as a Top 20 national finalist in the USA Biology Olympiad. Additionally, she has captained her Science Bowl team to Top 16 at nationals. While undergoing her own biology journey, she aims to create more opportunities for underrepresented students through the nationwide STEM competitions she directs. In her free time, Sophie enjoys playing the guitar and identifying flowers.

Pleasanton, CA

Tony Wang is passionate about expanding educational access, founding the Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair Student Leadership Board, which hosts free STEM workshops for Title I schools. Tony also leads Rhapsody for Youth, a nonprofit that donated $15,000 and held free summer camps for low-income Oakland students. Tony conducts AI research at Stanford and worked on curriculum used to teach graduate students. For his work, he has been honored as a Regeneron ISEF Finalist, Rise Global Winner, and speaker at the 77th Annual UN General Assembly. Tony also competes in martial arts and earned two gold medals at the international championships, qualifying for Team USA. In his free time, Tony enjoys writing poetry and playing with his dog.

Calista Wilk

Calista Wilk strives to research and develop ways that physics can be applied to address pressing issues, like climate change. She has worked with professors to study novel solar cells, leading-edge 2D materials, thin-film transistors, and their applications in energy conservation. Through her nonprofit The Terra Project, Calista created and shared resources such as research articles, blog posts, and educational songs to empower people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about sustainability. Passionate about education, she also partners with after-school programs at Title I schools to lead a club that immerses underserved middle school girls into the world of STEM, with a focus on environmental sustainability topics.

Erin William

Kansas city, mo.

For Erin William, community knows no bounds. Erin takes pride in representing the student body in her school’s newly established Diversity, Equity and Inclusion council. In the Greater Kansas City region, Erin is the running Poetry Out Loud champion, selecting works that denounce systemic injustice. As a member of the Kauffman Foundation’s YouthLed Council, Erin works to uplift youth voices in advocacy. With the One Kansas City Radio Erin produced a podcast called “I’ll Tell You When You’re Older” to call attention to the Northeast Kansas City Community. On a global scale, Erin co-founded an International Social Justice Program with participants from the US, Mexico, Brazil, Uganda and Rwanda. Erin plans to study International Relations at Princeton University.

Emily Wilson

Emily Wilson is committed to facilitating empathy, leading with humility, and creating change through actionable solutions. She is driven to advocate for the AAPI community, and has increased its visibility through her business, Gilded Macarons, and as Co-President of her school’s Asian Affinity Group. Emily is also Co-Chair of her school’s philanthropic Carnival, Founder of its UNICEF Club, and Co-Founder of Help Homeless Cleveland, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has raised thousands of dollars and numerous in-kind donations to generate an amplified impact on the region’s homelessness crisis. An incoming Wharton student, Emily hopes to guide businesses and teams in creating the innovative ideas and quantitative measures that better the world.

Lauren Wong

Lauren Wong is a passionate youth advocate and the Founder of Nevada Girls in STEM, a nonprofit that empowers young women through free STEM workshops. Lauren is also a member of the Nevada Youth Legislature and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council representing over 40,000 youth. She has testified to support bills that have become state law, including funding to address learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lauren is a nationally-ranked golfer and was named an AJGA Rolex Scholastic All-American. At her school, she is the President of Science Bowl and Secretary of Robotics. Lauren is the recipient of the AspireIT Impact Award and Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In her free time, Lauren enjoys travel, cooking, and music.

Great Neck, NY

Rachel Woo is a community advocate, passionate about education and public health. She is the founder of Every Child Educated (ECE), a nonprofit that provides educational resources to underprivileged communities through the delivery of school supplies. Through ECE, she has provided an entire Costa Rican village with textbooks, notepads, markers, and more. In her hometown, Rachel founded The Suitcase Initiative, in collaboration with The Bowery Mission, an organization helping homeless New Yorkers, that has donated 300+ suitcases and provided individuals with a safe, clean place for their belongings. At school, Rachel leads as co-President of DECA and field hockey captain. Rachel plans to study public health and pursue a career in medicine.

Green Bay, WI

Cara’s passions are public policy, education equity, poetry, and classical music. She is the Founder and President of STEM2girls, a student-led 501(c)(3) that empowers hundreds of girls and women to pursue STEM careers by providing workshops, resources, and mentoring opportunities in Northeast Wisconsin. As the student representative of her district’s Board of Education, she has moderated debates with election candidates, made student voice a district and school priority, and been recognized by NCWIT and Wisconsin Public Radio. She has led French, Forensics, and Equity clubs at her school and is an award-winning violinist/violist, published poet, and public speaker. Cara plans to study international affairs with a focus in East Asian diplomacy.

Madison, AL

Austen Wyche is a changemaker and advocate in algorithmic justice, voting rights, gun violence prevention, and empowering the next generation of leaders. He founded The Teen View, a youth-led blog preparing youth to discuss the issues of our time. As Advocacy Director of Encode Justice, a coalition for human-centered technology, he lobbies state and federal lawmakers, coordinates partnerships, and educates the public on responsible technology. He served as a Giffords Courage Fellow working to enact gun violence prevention. Locally, Austen leads Young Advocates for Equality and United Way Youth Leaders Council, fundraising over $10,000 for non-profit allocation. In the future, Austen will pursue a career in policy analysis and economics.

Campbell, CA

As Santa Clara County’s Youth Poet Laureate, Anna has spoken on poetry’s emancipatory power for TEDxYouth, Alliance for Girls, Attorney General Rob Bonta’s inauguration, among others. She co-founded the Journals of Justice 501(c)(3) to amplify youth voices in social justice through journalism. Her writing has been widely recognized, including by the New York Times, Poetry Society of the UK, KQED, and Youth Speaks. As a beekeeper, Anna teaches bee conservation to the community, established Taylor St Farm’s first urban hive, rescues local swarms, and researched an ML-driven solution to queen failure. At school, she leads the student newspaper, AAPI Coalition, Girls Who Code, and Model UN. Anna is a Regeneron STS Scholar and Coolidge Senator.

Cordova, TN

AJP’s Senior Palestinian Activist, Lobbyist, Speaker, and Founder, Nia Yusuf is also the founder and devout teacher of Tajweed with Dean, as well as co-founder of Shukar & Coffee, the first cafe at Memphis Islamic Center. In my role as an active member of UNICEF, the Red Cross, and the St. Jude Leadership Society, I raised $5,000 annually. As Marketing Director for Revamp Youth Foundation, I assist underprivileged students in third-world countries in need of education supplies when I am not working on hands-on services. My motto for service comes from the Prophet Muhammed(saw) my role model’s saying, “”the best of you are those who learn and benefit others.

Mandy Zhang

Wappingers falls, ny.

Mandy Zhang is the 2022 Youth Activist of the Year. As an American Red Cross national ambassador, she started Ready, Set, Puppets, a disaster preparedness initiative to teach kids about fire safety using puppets after half her village experienced home fires. She is also the founder of Banned Book Club, where she has donated thousands of books to LGBTQIA+ kids after fighting a LGBTQIA+ book ban in her school district. She has been recognized in the New York Times, USA Today, and by NYS senators for her outstanding activism. Her organization, Young STEMists, strives to bridge the gender gap by hosting monthly STEM programs. She is coding a carbon footprint tracker app and publishing a children’s book called “Samantha Takes A Stand.

Victoria Zhang

Victoria Zhang is a social justice advocate, passionate about civic engagement and cultural representation. As the Executive Director of Expansion for Let’s Vote America, a non-partisan, civic education campaign promoting youth voter turnout, she worked with the League of Women Voters, iCivics, and the Harris County Elections Office and led numerous voter registration drives and canvassing efforts. Victoria is also dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion. As president of her school’s Asian Pacific American Culture Club, she addressed the spike of anti-Asian hate crimes and led a sit-in within her school, sparking a movement for systemic change against racism. Victoria will be attending Williams College as a QuestBridge Match Scholar.

Westlake, OH

Yikun Zhou is a proud Asian American who is passionate about serving his local community. From his involvement in the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, where he has led voter outreach efforts to engage the underserved AAPI electorate, to founding his school’s Crochet Club, which has made blankets for charities and is currently creating a plarn (plastic yarn) display to raise awareness about plastic pollution, he has worked to create a positive and interconnected community. In addition, Yikun is heavily involved in his school’s Science Olympiad, Orchestra, Cross Country, Tennis, and Drama Club. And in his free time, he enjoys reading sci-fi, baking bread and pastries, and hiking with his dog. In college, Yikun plans on studying biology to become a pediatrician.

Old Westbury, NY

Kevin Zhu is a researcher, musician, and creative writer. Researching cancer genomics at Stanford University’s Snyder Lab, his top honors include the International Science & Engineering Fair, Regeneron Science Talent Search, and Nature co-author. A musician, Kevin studies at the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College. Since his recital debut at age 9, he’s performed in 10+ countries. Kevin has published several creative works, and was a National Student Poet Semifinalist. In 2020, Kevin became CEO of The Incandescent: an organization promoting mental health via creative arts, reaching 200,000+ viewers in 111 countries. Kevin was named a WAFF Global Teen Leader and recently spoke at the UN General Assembly. Kevin is the co-captain of Jericho’s Varsity tennis team.

Jessica Zhuo

Jessica Zhuo is a neuroscience enthusiast and entrepreneur who is passionate about educational equity. She has created multiple educational initiatives that aim to bridge the gender and income gaps within STEM related fields, designed and taught lessons for younger students, and produced numerous infographic posts that aim to make science more easily accessible. Along with her advocacy efforts, she is an active Science Olympiad competitor and mentor for underclassmen. Jessica also runs her own jewelry business on Depop which has amassed over 5.8k followers and held 3.6k+ transactions. She will continue to study neuroscience and policy on a pre-med track at Harvard University this fall.

Morgantown, WV

Rania Zuri is the Founder and CEO of The LiTEArary Society, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit with the mission of ending book deserts for disadvantaged preschool children. The LiTEArary Society has donated over $192,000 worth of new books to more than 18,000 children in all 50 states. Rania’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (Inspiring Kids), The Kelly Clarkson Show, Teen Vogue, The Today Show, NPR, TEDx, and Fox News. She is an author of an upcoming US Senate Resolution and a children’s picture book series (sold in-store at select Barnes & Noble stores) where 100% of the profits go to more new books for children in need. In 2022, Forbes named Rania as One of Six “Teens Making the World a Better Place.”

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. With its 35th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the Foundation has provided more than $81 million in scholarships to over 6,750 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more about how to become a Coke Scholar here .