Congratulations To A Native Staten Islander, Two Other Queens Residents For Being Named 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars, Each Will Receive $20,000 Scholarship Award

THREE DISTINGUISHED QUEENS-AREA STUDENTS NAMED 2023 COCA-COLA SCHOLARS

Nation’s Premiere Scholarship Program Awards Local Students $20,000 Each for College

QUEENS, NY – Alissar Dalloul, Jessica Zhuo, and Roberto Quesada Pagoada, all seniors in the Queens, New York area have been recognized as three of the country’s most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and have each been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. Dalloul, Zhuo and Quesada Pagoada are three of 150 selected from 91,000+ applications from across the country to receive this scholarship.

Alissar Dalloul. Image Credit – Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

As members of the 35th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, these students not only exemplify superior leadership, service, and academics – they are change agents, positively affecting others in their community.

Jessica Zhuo. Image Credit – Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

Zhou, a first-generation student at Stuyvesant High School, grew up in East Elmhurst and will be attending Harvard University in the fall to study neuroscience.

“I am the first in my family to go to college and navigating the college application process by myself has been quite challenging. This scholarship will ensure that I don’t have to go through future struggles alone, whether it be balancing my life, college or applying to medical school,” said Zhou. “I know that I will be able to look towards my Coke family for support and guidance, an invaluable tool that can’t be found elsewhere.”

Roberto Quesada Pagoada. Image Credit – Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

Quesada Pagoada, a student at Brooklyn Technical High School, grew up in Jamaica and will be attending Harvard University in the fall to study government.

“Beyond the money, the Coca-Cola Scholarship allows me to join a community of diverse and talented leaders from around the country who are helping push boundaries,” explained Quesada Pagoada. “From activists in the Class of 2023, to past Coca-Cola Scholars like Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Coke Scholars are making an impact.”

Dalloul, a student at Staten Island Academy, grew up in Staten Island and is currently undecided on their college and major.

Coca-Cola Scholars attended the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta April 13-16, 2023, where they were the guests of honor at the 35th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet and participated in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni. Collectively, the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awarded $3.1 million in college scholarships to these outstanding young leaders.

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 2023 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 6,750 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $81 million in scholarships over the course of 35 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, the new Coca-Cola Scholars will 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 initiatives include a podcast called The SIP and the sixth year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college. Every 5 years, all alumni are invited to a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit.

Banner Image: Coca-Cola Scholars Banner with all winners nationwide. Image Credit – Coca-Cola Foundation

Coca-Cola Scholars Program