St. Mary Academy-Bay View, a leader in all-girls education since 1874, has announced that Lauren DiSanto ’20 (Johnston) and Ishita Rai ’20 (Warwick) have been named Semifinalists for the 2020 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, moving to the next round of the selection process to become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship.   1,928 high school seniors were selected as Semifinalists from a pool of 93,075 submitted applications from across the country, based on their academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated in school and community activities. DiSanto and Rai are now in the running for 150 college scholarships worth $20,000.  “We are thrilled to have not one but two students selected as Semifinalists for the 2020 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program,” said Colleen Gribbin, Upper School Principal. “Our mission is to empower confident, independent, compassionate and socially conscious young women, and Lauren and Ishita embody these characteristics that lead to lifelong learning and achievement.”  Semifinalists are now asked to complete Phase 2 applications, which include essays, recommendations and transcripts. An independent selection committee will review the applications and select 250 Regional Finalists by the end of January to participate in online or in person interviews. One hundred fifty Coca-Cola Scholars will be named in March and go to Atlanta in April for a celebratory banquet and Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.

“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.”