Local Bayside Academy senior Ty Kannegieter has been named a Regional Finalist for the 2019 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, moving to the next round of the selection process to become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship. More than 200,000 applications were initiated by students for this prestigious program.

Ty was among 1,896 Semifinalists who were selected from more than 95,000 completed applications and is now one of just 251 students who have moved to the final selection phase, regional interviews. After these interviews are conducted in mid-February, 150 of the Regional Finalists will be designated as Coca-Cola Scholars in March and will each receive a $20,000 scholarship to be used at the student’s college of choice. Collectively, the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation will award $3.1 million in college scholarships to these outstanding young leaders. 

A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the United States and The Coca-Cola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind. With the addition of the 2019 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 6,150 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $69 million in scholarships over the course of 31 years.

"We believe that identifying these young leaders throughout the country and encouraging their passion for serving others not only empowers the students, but also lifts up those around them.” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Foundation. "The Coca-Cola system is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve, and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is proud to be a part of that commitment.”

In addition to receiving college scholarships, those students selected as Coca-Cola Scholars will travel to Atlanta April 4–7 for Scholars Weekend where they will serve as the guests of honor at a celebratory banquet, participate in a leadership development curriculum, and be welcomed into a vibrant and growing family of alumni that have become a powerful force for positive change in the world. Through networking, collaborations, and friendships, the group strives to make a greater impact together. Recent events and initiatives include the 2018 Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit, a post-hurricane clean-up in Houston, and the third year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college.