Kennesaw State Students Find Continued Success In Coca-Cola Scholarship Program

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Apr 23, 2021

Kennesaw State students find continued success in Coca-Cola Scholarship program

Kamille Suarez-Paulino

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Apr 23, 2021) — Prior to enrolling at Kennesaw State University, first-generation student Kamille
Suarez-Paulino said there were few people who could offer guidance for her college
career.

Now a third-year student in The Coca-Cola First Generation and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Scholars program, the economics major wears her first-generation status as a badge of pride.

“I feel like I’m breaking barriers,” she said. “I feel very empowered by the resources
available to me because of The Coca-Cola Foundation program. Without them, I’m not
sure I would have gone to college.”

Suarez-Paulino is one of 35 students who have benefited from the program made possible
by a $1.25 million donation from The Coca-Cola Foundation. Launched in August 2018,
the grant provides scholarships to students who identify as first generation, or those
who are first in their immediate families to seek college degrees. Beyond the scholarships,
the four-year program offers additional academic and social support designed to meet
the needs of the students in the target populations. Support comes in the form of
graduation coaches, mentoring receptions and regular workshops.

As someone new to the college experience, Suarez-Paulino said the graduation coaching
has been one of the most advantageous aspects of the program. On the advice of her
coach, she attended several workshops and seminars, leading her to become an active
member of the Undergraduate Research Club and the Student Managed Investment Fund.

Keoni McKeever
“Since the beginning, my greatest resource has been the graduation coaching I receive
on a regular basis,” she said. “Any time I have a problem, one of my first stops is
with my graduation coach because they have a deep understanding of how the University
works and are quick to provide the advice I need.”

Like Suarez-Paulino, civil engineering student Keoni McKeever said he was able to find a community on campus through The
Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program. As a freshman, he became active in
the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter which, in turn, led him to
an internship at Civilogistix.

“The internships has provided a lot of insight about the real world and how my classes
apply to what I’ll be doing once I graduate,” said McKeever, who will spend this summer
as a civil design intern at Eberly & Associates. “It really solidified that I wanted
to stay in civil engineering. I’m gaining a lot of experience that I might not have
otherwise, and I’m so thankful for that.”

Emily Johnston
If not for the program, business management student Emily Johnston said she likely wouldn’t have been able to afford college.
Each recipient of The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship receives a $5,000 award,
which can be coupled with the HOPE Scholarship annually to cover all costs associated
with tuition, fees and books.

Johnston said she has used opportunities within the program to work on her resume
writing and interview skills, and has built her network by connecting with Coca-Cola
professionals. During a recent mentoring dinner, she was paired with Kathy Schwaig,
KSU provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

“It was super cool because it was such a personal thing,” Johnston said. “I told her
I wanted to work for the Braves, and she was telling me everyone she knows in that
organization and how she could help me. It was just so neat to be able to meet her
and get those connections.”

Tierra Morrow
Tierra Morrow, an elementary education student, said she would not have traveled internationally if it weren’t for the program,
which provides funding for students to engage in research and study abroad opportunities.
In 2019, she visited Peru with her first generation learning community.

“I gained so much insight from the study abroad experience,” she said. “I even picked
up a minor in Latin American studies solely because of study abroad. Being thrown
into another culture like that was an experience that I would have never gained any
other way.”

Like Suarez-Paulino, Morrow admits that she had some angst about being the first in
her family to seek a college degree. However, equipped with the experience through
The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program, she has adopted it as part of
her identity.

“When I introduce myself, I say that I’m a first-generation college student because
it really does say a lot about you,” she said. “I know that I’m raising the bar for
future generations in my family.”

– Travis Highfield

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.