Twelve UA Students Receive $240,000 in Scholarships from the Coca-Cola Foundation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama and The Coca-Cola Foundation recently honored 12 UA freshmen as recipients of The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program.

The $240,000 in scholarships was awarded by Gary Fayard, chief financial officer for the Coca-Cola Co. and UA President Dr. Robert E. Witt during a luncheon in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 22.

The scholarships were part of a $1 million scholarship donation made by The Coca-Cola Foundation to UA’s “Our Students. Our Future.” campaign. The grant is an extension of The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program and UA is the program’s first public institution partner in more than 10 years.

“We are pleased that The Coca-Cola Foundation has chosen to be a partner in our vision to be a ‘university of choice’ for the best and brightest,” said UA President Dr. Robert E. Witt. “$1 million is the largest scholarship that The University of Alabama has ever received.”

This fall, the 12 students will receive $5,000 for each year for four years at the University. Groups of 12 students will be added in years 2007, 2008 and 2009. A total of 48 students will receive $20,000 scholarships each over seven years. The donation also includes $40,000 in scholarships for freshman orientation classes.

“The Coca-Cola Foundation is pleased to help deserving students from Alabama who without this scholarship might otherwise not have the opportunity to attend college. It is especially rewarding for us to play a part in supporting students who are the first in their families to attend college,” said Gary Fayard, chief financial officer for The Coca-Cola Co., TCCF treasurer and a UA alumnus.

To be considered for the scholarship award, students must demonstrate financial need and be the first in their immediate families to attend college. Scholarship recipients must enroll as full-time students from Alabama and attain and maintain a 2.8 grade point average in their freshman year and a 3.0 GPA thereafter.

The 12 recipients are:

The “Our Students. Our Future.” campaign’s $500 million goal includes $250 million for student scholarships. The remaining funds are allocated to faculty support, facilities and priority needs. The campaign has raised more than $299 million since 2002.

The mission of The Coca-Cola Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the community and enhance individual opportunity through education.