Two Johnston students selected as semifinalists in Coca-Cola Scholars Program

JHS students Kathir Kalyanaraman and Shreyas Shrestha are 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalists. Graphic by Clara toot.

By Lynn Meadows, JCSD Director of Communications

JOHNSTON, IA. (Oct. 16, 2024) — Johnston High School seniors Kathir Kalyanaraman and Shreyas Shrestha have been named semifinalists in the prestigious national 2025 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

Kalyanaraman and Shrestha are among 21 students from Iowa — and 1,336 from across the country — selected as semifinalists for their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated in school and community activities. Semifinalists represent 1.45% of more than 105,000 applicants.

Semifinalists will now submit applications to be reviewed by the Coca-Cola Scholars’ Program Reading Committee. After this review, 250 will advance as regional finalists, with 150 becoming Coca-Cola Scholars and receiving a $20,000 college scholarship.

Last school year, JHS senior Courtney Sweet was named a 2024 Coca-Cola Scholar and won a $20,000 college scholarship. Scholars then attended Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend from April 25 to 28 in Atlanta, where they were the guests of honor at the 36th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet and participated in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute.

Courtney Sweet, 2024 Coca-Cola Scholar

Students selected from the Class of 2025 will be the 37th class of scholars in a program by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation that has provided more than 7,050 students a total of $87 million in scholarships since 1986. 

Students selected are change agents, positively affecting others in their communities. In addition to receiving college scholarships, students selected as Coca-Cola Scholars are welcomed into a vibrant community of alumni who have become a powerful force for positive change in the world. 

Through networking, collaborations, and friendships, the group strives to make a greater impact together. Initiatives include a podcast called The SIP (The Coke Scholars Ignite Podcast) and the ninth year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Coca-Cola Scholars as they transition to college. Every five years, all alumni are invited to a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit. 

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. The program is a joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company.