The Coca-Cola Company Announces Jessica Conley Recipient of the 2009-2010 Goizueta Scholars Fund Award

Business Wire, June 24, 2009

ATLANTA -- Jessica Conley, a recent graduate of Big Walnut High School, in Sunbury, OH, was named one of five recipients of the 2009-2010 Goizueta Scholars Fund award, established through a personal bequest by Roberto C. Goizueta, former chairman and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company.

Beneficiaries of The Goizueta Scholars Fund are the children of employees and alumni of The Coca-Cola Company, who are selected on the basis of their academic record, community service, honors, work experience, career goals and financial need. Each year, the program awards undergraduate scholarships of up to $25,000 per student. Awards are renewable for three additional years or until the student earns a bachelor's degree.

Conley, whose father, Tony L. Conley, is an employee of The Coca-Cola Company, is a devoted scholar and musician, who has plans on becoming an optometrist. Conley was very active at Big Walnut High School, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Tri-M Honor Society, the Social Studies Honor Society, and the National English Honor Society. In addition, Conley plays the flute and was a member of the Big Walnut Marching Band and Wind Ensemble.

“Attending Otterbein has always been my dream,” said Conley. “The physics program truly intrigues me… and it is what I plan on majoring in. I’d love the opportunity to learn and grow there. I will strive for success, just as I did in high school.” She will attend Otterbein College in Westerville, OH.

In addition to Conley, the other four Goizueta recipients include: Kyle Kuzmick of Portage, MI, and Mason Roberson of Paw Paw, MI, both of whom will attend Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI; Ameerah Mosley of McDonough, GA, and Jasmine Williams of College Park, GA, both of whom will attend Spelman College in Atlanta.

The scholarship fund was established in 2000 by The Goizueta Foundation at the bequest of Mr. Goizueta, who appreciated the value of education and its role in the future success of young people. It was his desire to help the children of his extended family – The Coca-Cola Company’s employees – to fulfill their dreams of attending the college or university of their choice and becoming successful. Mr. Goizueta led The Coca-Cola Company from 1981 until his death in 1997.

Over the past nine years, scholarships have been awarded to 66 students, totaling over $2.7 million. The program is administered by Scholarship America, a national non-profit student aid organization.