Coca-Cola Awards $3.4 Million in Scholarships. Here's What They Look For.

hi my name is Lina Nguyen, from Kansas. I'm Asian, born in California but raised in MO and KS. I'm currently a senior at blue valley high. a little deeper to my history; I have a sister that is going to KU, with a full ride, I also don't live up to her standards because she's smart and over achiever. She has someone there every day to help her make the right decisions and guide her with her studies.I am still living in my parents house with two of my cousins. my mom don't really see much in me. she thinks I'm going to grow up and be one the girls that sell themselves to men. And she really focusing is my sister. my real dad left me when i was eight. so to shorten this he don't care about me, as also goes with my step dad. As to my other family members their very closed minded, think just only from themselves and very thing they say has to be right even when their wrong. My dream job is working in the fashion industry or child health care. I love helping people and give advices. also with they economy right know i want to help as much as possible. I know people say this a lot but i really mean it. i want to put my hands on many projects as possible before i die. So, I'm asking for help to make this come true because i cant do this on my own. People ask me why not go to your parents for money, my answer to that is because since i was little, they have looked down on me, so im going to prove to them I'm going to make it. either with them or without them.
thanks for you time reading this.
ps: you'll see me on the big screen one way or another =D

Hello, My Name is Marienixza Diaz I am a Senior at Lawton Senior High School and I am Bilingual speaking both Spanish and English. I attend the Great Plains Vocational School where I take 3d game design. To make things short, I want this scholarship. I want to make my family happy, I want to make my father Proud. I want to make this world a better place with this scholarship it could help me accomplish this. If not then with or without it I will become the best Game Designer,Animator and concept Artist. It's my dream.

HI MY NAME IS HAILEY IM A SENIOR IN HIHG SCHOOL I SPEAK A LITTLE BIT SPANISH BUT NOT MUCH ,IM IN ALL KINDS OG STUFF.IM IN ROTC,SOARS,CHIOR AND I WORK HARD AT EVERYTHING .I LOVE HELPING AT THE NURSING HOUSE.I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO COLLEGES BUT IT COST TO MUCH MONEY AND MY MOM IS A SINGLE MOM RESTING ME AND MMY LITTLE SISTER SO I NEED HELP GETING A SCHOLARSHIPS ,I JUST WISH I GET INTO A GOOD COLLEGES

Hello my name is Marie, I am a senior at chatham central High School. I have always made good grades because I have always wanted to be an anesthesiologist. My dad was put in the hospital where he stayed for almost two years, now my mother nor father have jobs because both of their plants they worked at closed down; therefore I am the only one in my family who is working. It would be an honor to recieve a scholarship towards helping me pay for college.

Thanks, Marie

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you. I appreciate you immensely. I am a student at South Puget Sound Community College. My GPA is 3.1. I will satisfy my requirements with South Puget Sound Community College Fall 2010. I plan to transfer to the University of Washington - Tacoma. My ultimate goal is a Doctorate Degree in Social Work.

I am unemployed. I lost my home five years ago to foreclosure.

My name is Pecola Colby, I am single/divorced, African American female, sixty-four years old and head of household. I am a testimony to the challenges and yes resilience related to me being socioeconomically and ethnically challenged when comparing me to the dominate culture. My observation and/or perception with social services programs is that of a system at times, lacks fairness, responsiveness and accountability to some of the families they serve. I believe it is imperative that social workers remain accessible to families for support, to establish at all costs, courtesy with integrity and respect for all people regardless of race or culture. Trust is essential and this is one way to build trust. Further, it is necessary to take appropriate and necessary steps to become as proficient as possible on cultural beliefs with protocol, respect, sensitivity and with care, to recognize cultural barriers, to embrace cultural differences and to learn how best to develop the relationship in order to provide the best possible service care.

My interest and passion then and now is to obtain a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. My heart's desire is to become a Social Worker because I am caring, compassionate, sensitive, and believe all families/people are significant, their voices count and should be heard. Further, obtaining an advance degree will allow me to have opportunities to embrace all families and cultures including attending to their needs and providing multiple levels for services with care. I envision my role as a Social Worker to be a voice for families as they journey through various programs for services and resources in order that they receive the very best with care. I will ensure families are not allowed to wander simply because they have come to believe no one cares about them or their well being. As a Social Worker, I will serve as an Advocate for families when necessary to ensure they receive the services and programs best for them. I will work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources; to support family development and to make certain families are on solid ground; to allow for flexibility; and to recognize emerging family needs and community issues.

I began my educational pursuit with Fort Steilacoom Community College, now Pierce College in 1981-1982. It was an honor and privilege to begn my educational journey with Fort Steilacoom Community College. The instructors were personal, engaging and worked as closely as necessary with students to ensure successes in the classrooms. However, without family support, eventually I became overwhelmed in my attempt to carry alone all the family and household responsibilities and I had to place my educational dream pursuit on hold until NOW. At this time in my life, however, there are no obstacles to deter or distract me from achieving a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. My vision is clear. I am detemined to succeed AND I know I will be an asset as a Social Worker to any organization or organized structural body.

From May 2004 to July 2008 I was employed with the Family Support Center in Olympia, Washington. I served as the Family Resource Specialist and assisted in meeting the needs of low-income families. My responsibilities were to work with families and support them in identifying and prioritizing their needs. I helped them identify the most appropriate resources to meet those needs and empowered them to follow through in accessing those resources. I also served as an Advocate for families when necessary and worked with case managers from other agencies to ensure a complete network of services.

My volunteerism also demonstrates my commitment to families and communities. I serve as a Volunteer with my church, New Life Baptist Church in Lacey, Washington in many roles and functions. I have successfully brought for more than five years with the assistance and support of a cadre of medical and non-medical volunteers, multiple services and programs to the immediate and surrounding communities in Thurston County, e.g. The Smilemobile, a mobile dental unit for children in low-income families and fifteen years old and younger, a "FREE" Back to School Physical Examination Day, Health Fairs, Walk-a-Thons, etc. I served as Chair-person for the Unity For Excellence Tutorial Program. I also serve as Chair-person for the Senior Adult Ministry. I am an Usher.

My efforts were recognized in the community. In April 2004, I received the Making a Difference in The Life of a Child Award from Thurston County and in June 2004, I received the Unique Achievement Award from the Thurston County Council on Cultural Diversity.

Again thank you for your time. It has been my privilege to share my thoughts with all of you. Please know I am available with questions if necessary for clarification. Further, please know any amount of financial support is most appreciative.

Please contact me at: 9225 Windsor Ln., NE
Apt E-103
Olympia, WA 98516

OR my email address is: pediandsons@comcast.net

Respectfully,

Pecola L. Colby

Oh and.....to get a scholarship from coca cola you cannot be a child or grandchild of a coke employee. How about that. As I said, they certainly don't take care of their own.

Greetings from Kansas City! I wanted to introduce myself. My Native American name is Ma-Kee-Chow-Wing-Ga (Cloud Elk Women). My English name is Lee and I have three outstanding daughters, that I have raised. I am three things: a full time mother, a full time student and a full time employee. I consider myself very humble to the things I give and recieve and now trying to continue my education. I would also carry-on with teaching my kids the same fundementals of: work hard and striving to be " what you want to be", it will pay off. I don't have much to offer but to teach our young that we all are healthy and happy and enjoy our lives. My family have a long history of teaching all people about our Native American ways to schools and educators. As being " Indian people" we have a large problem with our health. As for me I like to give back to the people and being in the step of health care, I find it diffucult to find the help and motivation from others. I am a Native American women with two special needs children. I have the opportunity to receive a Degree in X-ray Medical Tech. I have been lucky to have to experince to have a child to have needs that are a huge reason to learn this field. My goals are simple but all the little things will be a big part of my future and including the children and the Indian people. Consider all the other problems we have in this world I have big ideas that would make a difference! Gathering all the information over the years I believe that knowledge is powerful and something nobody can take away from me. I deeply feel that a scholarship that is being offered would be one step that really can be very beneficial not just for me but to anyone else that the lives I touch.