TAMPA, Fla.--Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) will award twenty-five recent Florida high school graduates with the first-ever Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠, in partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, during an awards ceremony planned for June 8th. The scholarships cover tuition and most fees for students to attend a Florida university, college, or vocational/technical school of their choice.

"Congratulations to our inaugural group of ‘Refreshing Minds’ scholars. We wish them well as they embark on the next phase of their educational journey.”

The Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship was launched in August 2023 as part of Coke Florida’s commitment to education. The scholarship program provides prepaid scholarships to students who are often overlooked academically and may not have adequate financial resources to pay for higher education. With matching funds from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship represents a $2.8 million investment and will support 250 scholarships over ten years. This commitment also aligns with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Path to Prosperity initiative, a statewide effort to address generational poverty in underserved communities.

“Through our investment in the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship program, Coke Florida continues its support of educational opportunities in the communities we serve,” said Percy L. Wells, II, group vice president, Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Communications for Coke Florida. “By supporting college education, we aim to jumpstart students’ exposure to career opportunities that lead to long-term self-sufficiency. We are honored to partner with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to fund college education for this year’s class of 25 Florida students. Congratulations to our inaugural group of ‘Refreshing Minds’ scholars. We wish them well as they embark on the next phase of their educational journey.”

The scholars reside in communities across Coke Florida’s exclusive sales and distribution market, which includes the Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville metropolitan areas. They are active members of their local Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate or Boys & Girls Club.

Obtaining advanced education and developing their interests and skills without financial burdens are essential to supporting the young adults selected for the inaugural class of Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship recipients.

“We congratulate these students and their families for their dedication and academic achievements thus far,” said Florida Prepaid College Foundation Director Cynthia O’Connell. “We are proud to partner with Coke Florida and thank them for their generous contribution. Together, we were able to provide something extraordinary to these students, a pathway to college.”

Coke Florida will host a scholarship awards ceremony for the students and their families on Saturday, June 8th, at Universal Orlando Resort.

For more on the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship, visit cokefloridascholarship.com.