Special to the Democrat

ATLANTA — Joanna David, a senior at Cathedral School, has been selected as a semifinalist in the 20th anniversary class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint effort of Coca-Cola Bottlers across America and The Coca-Cola Company, is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States.

With the 2008 class, more than 4,000 young scholars nationwide will have benefited from just over $35 million that the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has provided.

The program recognizes a diverse group of extraordinary high school seniors who have demonstrated academic and civic excellence in their schools and communities.

David ranks with approximately 2,000 high school seniors from across the nation in the running for $3 million in college scholarships that the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will award later this spring.

Students are selected to advance to this next phase based on the level of academic excellence, leadership and achievement demonstrated in school and community activities.

The Class of 2008 Coca-Cola Scholars will mark the 20th anniversary that the Foundation has awarded these scholarships.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation received more than 79,000 applications this year, and the semifinalists are truly some of the brightest students in the country,” said Mark Davis, president of the Foundation.

“We’re delighted to have such a bright and talented pool of students to consider for our 20th anniversary class.”

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow’s leaders through college scholarships.