Athens, Ga.
– Twelve incoming University
of Georgia freshmen who
are the first in their families to attend college have been named recipients of
the inaugural Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship at UGA.
The students will receive the $5,000 scholarship for their
first year at UGA, which begins Aug. 16 with the start of fall semester classes,
and will continue to receive it for three more years provided they meet
academic requirements.
The Coca-Cola Foundation this year awarded UGA $1 million to
start the First Generation Scholarship program, which assists students who are
the first in their families to attend college. Since its inception, the
program has provided more than $10 million in scholarships to more than 1,000
students on almost 400 campuses in 32 states and in 52 universities in China.
The $1 million gift also will provide scholarships to groups
of 12 UGA freshmen in 2008 and 2009, and to 14 freshmen in 2010.
Altogether, 50 students will receive $20,000 each in scholarship awards over
the next seven years.
Recipients must be full-time students who have a strong high
school academic record and demonstrated financial need. In order to renew
the scholarship, they must maintain a minimum 2.8 grade point average in their
freshman year and at least a 3.0 average for the next three years.
“This year’s recipients will enroll together this fall in a
first-year seminar,” said Jere Morehead, vice president for instruction.
Other special programming, including a recognition luncheon, also is scheduled
for the first class of scholars.
Following are the names, hometowns, high schools and
anticipated majors of UGA’s first group of recipients:
Geralee D. Corona, Snellville, South Gwinnett High School,
criminal justice; Edward A. Lilla, Jasper, Pickens High School, biochemistry
and molecular biology; Cathy T. Nguyen, Lawrenceville, Peachtree Ridge High
School, art; Linh P.P. Nguyen, Lilburn, Meadowcreek High School, pre-law; Ricky
P. Patel, Norcross, Meadowcreek High School, biology; Cortney L. Ralston,
Ellijay, Gilmer High School, biochemistry and molecular biology; Cara E.
Russell, Rossville, Ridgeland High School, pre-journalism; Sarah A. Thorne,
Canon, Franklin County High School, music; Jessica L. Tucker, Dallas, East
Paulding High School, pre-business; Megan L. Aunchman, Buford, Mill Creek High
School, biological sciences; Shital K. Lad, Acworth, North Cobb High School,
biology; Kayla M. Sullivan, Trenton, Dade County High School, undecided.
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