Olivia Szczerba Named Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist!

St. Joseph High School is proud to recognize and celebrate Olivia Szczerba ’25, who has been named a Semifinalist for the 2025 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program!

1,336 high school seniors were selected as Semifinalists from a pool of over 105,000 submitted applications from across the country based on their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated in school and community activities. See the full list. The Semifinalists are now in the running for 150 college scholarships worth $20,000.

A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. With the addition of the 2025 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 7,050 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $87 million in scholarships over the course of 37 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.”

"We are incredibly proud of Olivia's dedication and hard work," remarked Nancy DiBuono, SJHS Principal. "Olivia exemplifies the spirit of our school, and this recognition is a testament to her commitment to academics, school leadership, and community service."

Semifinalists will now complete Phase 2 applications, which include essays, a recommendation, and a transcript. An independent selection committee will review the applications and recommend 250 Regional Finalists in early January to take part in online interviews. 150 Coke Scholars will be named in late February to receive a $20,000 college scholarship and attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, April 3-6, 2025, where they will be the guests of honor at the 37^th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet and participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.