Meet 3 locals who head to college soon on a unique Coca-Cola UNITED scholarship

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If you don’t know anything about Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED in Birmingham, here’s the first thing you should note: they put their associates first.

This is shown through their family atmosphere, more specifically through the scholarship opportunities they offer associates’ children and grandchildren.

We got to chat with three awesome high school graduates about what this scholarship means to them, and what their future holds. Here’s what we learned.

20 scholarship recipients selected

Lizzy, Abbie and Molly were three of the 20 students selected to receive the Crawford Johnson III and Walker Johnson Jones Scholarship.

This scholarship was created in 1995 to honor the legacy of Crawford Johnson III, former Coca-Cola UNITED President and CEO, and Walker Johnson Jones, former Community Relations Director and current board member.

Applications must be submitted by the children, stepchildren, grandchildren and step-grandchildren of Coca-Cola UNITED associates to receive scholarships to support their college studies.

“Our scholarship is an extension of our associates first culture. As a family business, the families of our associates are important to us.

Our associates have raised some outstanding young people, and we are so proud of all they have achieved.”

Christy Danzy, Corporate Community Relations Manager + scholarship program lead, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED

This year, 20 students were selected out of 80 applicants—Lizzy, Abbie and Molly each received $3,000 renewable annually for up to four years.

“Coca-Cola United offering these scholarships underlines and confirms their commitment to putting their associates first.

For more than 10 years now, I’ve seen other kids come through and thought, ‘Maybe someday my kid will have the chance’ and now I get to see [Lizzy] and it’s surreal.”

Doug Tagtmeyer, Lizzy’s dad + Risk Management and Counsel Senior Director, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED

Q + A with Lizzy, Abbie + Molly

What does receiving this scholarship mean to you?

• Lizzy: “Receiving this scholarship is a great honor. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity and hope to represent Coca-Cola UNITED well.”
• Abbie: “It allows me to just have the college experience—you only get it once.”
• Molly: “This scholarship opens more opportunities for me. I’ll get to have a good time, worry about my schoolwork and take advantage of everything that comes up for me.”

Who do you most admire?

Going off to college is a big deal—and it’s encouraging to know that you have people in your corner to support you through change.

When I asked the scholarship recipients who helped them get to where they are, they all had the same answer—their mom.

• Lizzy: “She has always been strong and a great role model. She just went back to work after staying home for 18 years to raise me and she’s always been really inspiring to me.”
• Abbie: “Me and her are the same person in every way. She’s taught me so much throughout high school about how to be a better person.”
• Molly: “She’s the reason I’m here. I wouldn’t be receiving this scholarship if it weren’t for her working at Coca-Cola UNITED. Out of all my family members, I think she’s been the most patient with me, taught me the most and I love her a lot.”

What are your plans after graduation?

• Lizzy: “My plan is to attend the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and I will be majoring in vocal performance.”
• Abbie: “I plan to attend the University of North Alabama to major in early childhood education in hopes of becoming a preschool teacher.”
• Molly: “After graduation, I’ll be going to The University of Alabama and majoring in marketing with a focus in pre-law.”

Coca-Cola UNITED puts associates first

One thing rings true at Coca-Cola UNITED: it’s a family. This is evident in Lizzy, Abbie, Molly and countless other children and grandchildren of associates who have walked the company’s halls.

“Coca-Cola UNITED offering these scholarships for our students means everything to not only me, but all of our employees here. It’s an expansion of the love and family atmosphere we have.”

Samantha Amick, Molly’s mom + Executive Administrative Assistant, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED

Abbie’s dad echoed these thoughts, saying:

“It gives us the opportunity to see how much they love and care about us and the fact that they’re willing to invest in our children’s education.”

Ed Foree, Abbie’s dad + Sales Reporting and Standards Manager, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED

To get a better feel on the UNITED atmosphere, check out Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.

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