Photo credit: Wingate Downs
Eleven University of Georgia students, representing a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, were honored as graduating Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars at a dinner held in April at the Georgia Center. The scholarship is currently in its 16th year.
UGA President Jere W. Morehead welcomed scholars and guests to the event and spoke of his own first-generation college experience. He introduced the speakers, including Tim Fallon, Director of Stakeholder and Community Partnerships, The Coca-Cola Company.
Coca-Cola First Generation scholar and graduating senior Elifelet Sanchez-Espinosa was the student speaker. She spoke about the importance of building community and feeling inspired to get involved. She was a member of UGA’s Arch Society, where she found an opportunity for humble service and servant leadership. She also worked with SGA’s First Year Student Connect Program as a peer mentor.
“This Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship has allowed me to explore opportunities by building intentional relationships, given me a constant inspiration to be the best academically, and provided me with the opportunity to do all of this while serving others,” she said. “I’m inspired to find ways to give back to first-generation college students after I graduate to pave the way forward. So other students can have similar experiences that it has a positive impact. Thank you, Coca-Cola First-Generation Scholarship, because your impact provided me with a newfound hope to believe in myself, to follow my dreams, and to always seek to make a positive change.”
Graduating scholars included:
- Jeremi Dickson, a psychology major from Marietta
- Alex Gallegos, a civil engineering major from Kennesaw
- Christopher Hernandez, a music composition major from Kennesaw
- Zerian Hood, an exercise and sports science major from Atlanta
- Chloe Lee, a biology and biological Sciences major from Milton
- Ka’Liyah Morgan, a pre-med, psychology major from Americus
- Kinley Phillips, a biology major from Colbert
- Jordan Riggins, a political science major from Atlanta
- Elifelet Sanchez-Espinosa, a marketing and fashion merchandising major from Gainesville
- Tony Wang, a psychology major
- Naomi Wubshet, an international affairs major from Duluth.
This year’s graduates served as peer mentors, ambassadors, tutors, and researchers. Post-graduation, they are headed to medical school, graduate school, and careers as analysts, civil engineers and more.
Marisa Pagnattaro, UGA’s vice president for instruction and senior vice provost for academic planning, also gave remarks.
“Thank you to The Coca-Cola Foundation for supporting this program. Our Coca-Cola First-Generation Scholars have outstanding academic credentials,” she said. “All of our students have mentoring opportunities, share a first-year seminar class, connect to alumni scholars, and fully engagein the life of the university. We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
Funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship supports academically outstanding students who are the first in their families to attend college. The scholarship, which provides $5,000 per year in addition to the HOPE Scholarship, is renewable for three years if the recipients maintain certain academic standards. In addition to financial support, students also receive support and services through UGA’s Division of Academic Enhancement and other academic programs to help them to adjust to college life, as well as opportunities for growth. The Coca-Cola Foundation has provided the scholarship to University of Georgia first-generation students since 2007.