Two Pine Crest seniors named semifinalists for 2027 Coca-Cola scholarships

Pinecrest, Florida – Two Pine Crest Upper School seniors have advanced in the nationwide selection process for the 2027 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, putting them in contention for college scholarships worth $20,000 each.

Georgia Kolettis and Christopher Wakefield, both members of the Class of 2027, were named semifinalists, the school announced October 19. They are among 1,227 students selected from a national pool of more than 113,000 applicants.

The semifinalist designation places the two students within a small portion of this year’s applicant pool. Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated through activities at school and in the community.

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The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. Its selection process considers students’ academic accomplishments alongside the contributions they make beyond the classroom.

For Kolettis and Wakefield, the announcement marks an important step in a competition that still includes an additional application review and an interview stage. Their semifinalist status allows them to continue pursuing one of the program’s 150 scholarships.

All semifinalists must now submit applications for the next round. An independent selection committee will review those submissions and narrow the field to 250 Regional Finalists by the end of January.

Those finalists will then participate in online interviews before the scholarship recipients are chosen. The process will reduce the current field of 1,227 semifinalists first to the regional group and then to the final class of scholars.

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In mid-February, the program will name 150 Coca-Cola Scholars. Each will receive a $20,000 college scholarship, representing a combined $3 million in awards for the selected students.

The opportunity also extends beyond financial assistance. Scholars will participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute, which is facilitated by alumni of the program.

That component brings leadership development into an award program that already emphasizes leadership and community service during selection. For the students ultimately chosen, it will accompany the scholarship support as part of their recognition.

Pine Crest congratulated Kolettis and Wakefield on reaching the semifinalist round and wished them success as the selection process continues.

Further information about the program and this year’s semifinalists is available through the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.