WAUKESHA– Kelsey Lawton, a graduate of West Allis Central High School who has been attending the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, has been chosen one of 350 students nationally for a Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation $1,000 scholarship to be applied toward tuition at the freshman-sophomore school.

In 2005, Lawton enrolled at UW-Waukesha because she was unsure about what major to pursue. The small school environment gave her the opportunity to explore her educational options. “I browsed,” she says.

During that time, she did her studies, worked in the Student Services office, and earned an invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the national honor society for two-year colleges. She expects to complete her Associate of Arts & Science Degree in December and move on to UW-Milwaukee to work toward a bachelor’s in public administration.

A PTK advisor, assistant professor of English Ellyn Lem suggested Lawton apply for the scholarship.  

“I was really excited,” says Lawton about receiving the award. It will ease the transition to the more-expensive baccalaureate school.

“The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program gives support and encouragement to an underserved population of college students,” said J. Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

This extension of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards to students at two-year schools is made possible with funding from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola, and the foundation in his name provides grants in support of human services initiatives.

In addition to the scholarships for students at two-year colleges, the Foundation’s Scholar’s Program awards more than $3 million annually in college scholarships to 250 outstanding high school seniors.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow’s leaders. The Foundation’s Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program has awarded $3.25 million in scholarships in the eight years since it was started.      

UW-Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 freshman-sophomore University of Wisconsin Colleges campuses. For information about programs, admission, or financial aid, contact the Student Services office at 888-2UW-WAUK (888-289-9285) or visit the Web at www.waukesha.uwc.edu.

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