Nation’s Most Prestigious Scholarship Program Awards SVHS Student $20,000 for College
ATLANTA, February 29, 2016 – Krishna Gorrepati, an exceptional senior at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, SC, has been recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation and has been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. As a member of the 28th class of Coca‑Cola Scholars, Mr. Gorrepati has demonstrated superior leadership and dedication to his community and was selected from a pool of over 87,000 initial applicants.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint effort of Coca-Cola Bottlers across America and The Coca-Cola Company, is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States, and was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola. Including the 2016 class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the Foundation has awarded over 5,700 Coca‑Cola Scholars with a total of $59.4 million in scholarships. The Coca-Cola system believes that investing in students who are leaders, both academically and in service to others, will result in positive, lasting change and sustainable communities.
“Krishna Gorrepati is part of a diverse group of extraordinary high school seniors that have shown a steadfast commitment to educational excellence, leadership and service to the school and community,” said Claude Nielsen, Chairman of the Board of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and President and Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United in Birmingham, AL. “The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is proud to name Mr./Miss Gorrepati as a 2016 Coca-Cola Scholar.”
On March 31, Gorrepati will join other Coca-Cola Scholars as they travel to Atlanta, the international headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company, for Scholars Weekend. During this four-day weekend, the Scholars will participate in a Leadership Development Institute to further develop their leadership skills, tour local landmarks, engage with former Coca-Cola Scholars, and participate in a group community service project. The 2016 Class of Coca-Cola Scholars will also be the guests of honor at the 28th annual Scholars Banquet, where they will be celebrated by representatives from the Coca-Cola system, educators, local dignitaries and friends of the Scholars Foundation. David Rubenstein, American financier and philanthropist best known as co-founder and co-chief executive officer of The Carlyle Group, will serve as the keynote speaker.
In addition to receiving a $20,000 college scholarship, Gorrepati will be welcomed into a vibrant and growing family of alumni that fosters lasting connections with each other and the Foundation. No other scholarship program maintains such lifetime connections or nurtures such a unique culture. In 2006, a Coca-Cola Scholar Alumni Advisory Board was created so that alumni could make an even greater positive impact together.
For a full list of 2016 Coca-Cola Scholars and their high schools, please visit: