By Kavya Jade

published in Fall 2024 Issue of CEISMC Impact Magazine

The Coca-Cola Foundation is supporting the EXCEL program through a recent grant to Georgia Tech that includes critical needs-based scholarships for students over the next four years. The first cohort of recipients was selected in fall 2023 and awarded $25,000 in total scholarships.

“The Coca-Cola Foundation scholarships are making college attendance more affordable and increasing program completion for students who might not otherwise have been able to attend an inclusive post-secondary education program like EXCEL,” said Director Ken Surdin. “We are incredibly grateful for The Coca-Cola Foundation’s support, which plays a crucial role in advancing the mission of the EXCEL program and enriching the lives of our students.”

The collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company extends beyond scholarship funding, as representatives from the company’s employee-led This-Ability Inclusion Network have been actively engaged with EXCEL students this past spring.

For example, a Coca-Cola representative attended EXCEL’s business networking event to support the students in developing their networking skills. He also gave a presentation on work, disability and success to the first-year students in the program. Groups of EXCEL students and EXCEL career staff have also toured the Coca-Cola warehouse in Atlanta. Students were provided with individual tours and mock interviews at Coca-Cola headquarters. From these interactions, two EXCEL seniors successfully applied for open positions at the facility, with one graduate hired in a full-time position at the Coca-Cola warehouse.

“In a short time, our collaboration with Coca-Cola has been incredibly fruitful, significantly benefiting our students through career-focused activities and industry interactions,” said Surdin. “We look forward to future partnerships with Coca-Cola to further enhance our students’ career preparation.”

Devin Simmons, Itzel Ocampo, Tsedey Tesfaye, Joseph McGill, and Kaleb Handspur were the first recipients awarded scholarships funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.