Five outstanding BASIS Charter Schools students from Arizona have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, one of the nation’s most competitive and respected scholarship programs recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
The semifinalists include:
- Timothy S., BASIS Ahwatukee
- Nihar G., BASIS Oro Valley
- Andrew R., BASIS Peoria
- Celine D., BASIS Scottsdale
- Ayush S., BASIS Scottsdale
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation received more than 107,000 applications nationwide, selecting only 1,238 semifinalists, just 1.12% of applicants to advance to the next stage. These students were chosen based on their demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and service to their schools and communities.
Established in 1986, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States, having awarded more than $90 million in scholarships to over 7,200 students since its inception.
Semifinalists are now preparing their Phase 2 applications, which include essays, transcripts, and recommendations. In early January, an independent selection committee will review submissions to identify 250 Regional Finalists, who will participate in virtual interviews.
From that group, 150 students will be selected as Coca-Cola Scholars in late February 2026 and invited to the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia (April 23–26, 2026). Scholars will take part in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute and attend the 38th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet, where they will be recognized for their achievements and awarded a $20,000 college scholarship.
Congratulations again to our five Coca-Cola Scholars Program Semifinalists! We know you are going to go on to do amazing things.
We love celebrating student accomplishments from the BASIS Charter Schools network! To see what else our students have been up to lately, check out our latest news.
