Scholarship program is a $2.8 million investment providing 250 scholarships over ten years
TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) announces the 2025 Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠ recipients. The scholarships cover full tuition and most fees for students to attend a public Florida university, college, or vocational/technical school of their choice.
“Coke Florida’s Refreshing Minds Scholarship provides prepaid scholarships to students who are often overlooked academically and may not have adequate financial resources to pay for higher education,” said Percy L. Wells, II, Group Vice President, Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Communications for Coke Florida. “As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary of refreshing Floridians, we continue to assist in increasing students’ exposure to career opportunities with the end goal of self-sufficiency. We are honored to carry on this great work as we welcome 25 more students to the Coke Florida family.”
The Class of 2025 scholars reside in communities across Coke Florida’s exclusive sales and distribution territory, which spans from Jacksonville down to the Keys. Scholars are also active members of their local Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida affiliate or the Boys & Girls Clubs Florida Alliance.
Members of the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship Class of 2025 and their hometowns are:
- Emma Almonte – Fort Lauderdale
- Kristopher Anderson – Jacksonville
- Dalialah Bustos – Belle Glade
- Jalia Charlery – Sebring
- Chemica Charles – Hallandale Beach
- Jude Charles – Fort Pierce
- Ruth Chavez-Tellez – Dunedin
- Destiny Davenport – Fort Myers
- Nia Evans – Jacksonville
- Yasmyn Galvan – Sebring
- Arielle Gibson – Riviera Beach
- Bakierra Henry – Tampa
- Makiah Lewis – Miami
- Bryan Miranda – Davie
- Rosemany Pascal – Miami
- Kaliyah Preston – Riverview
- Olivia Rhodes-Clark – Jacksonville
- Emmanuel Salgado – Miami
- Shehzad Shah – Jacksonville
- Camila Suarez-Verdecia – Tampa
- Isaiah Thomas – Miami
- Ameriyah Williams – Sarasota
- Jamarr Williams – Bradenton
- Za’Miayh Wright – Davie
- Nasim Zahriyeh – Miami
The Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship was launched in August 2023 as part of Coke Florida’s commitment to education. With matching funds from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship represents a $2.8 million investment and will support 250 scholarships over ten years. This commitment also aligns with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Path to Prosperity initiative.
Coke Florida will host a scholarship awards ceremony for the students and their families on Saturday, June 7th, at Universal Orlando Resort.
For more on the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship, visit cokefloridascholarship.com.
About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is the sixth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Coke Florida makes, sells, and distributes products of The Coca-Cola Company in an exclusive territory that covers over 21 million consumers across 47 counties in Florida. The company employs over 5,000 associates and operates four GreenCircle Certified manufacturing facilities and eighteen distribution centers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. In 2025, Coke Florida was recognized as a US Best Managed Company Gold Standard Winner by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com.
© 2025 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. “Refreshing Minds Scholarship” is a service mark of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. The Caps and Gowns Design is a trademark of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. The Coca-Cola Contour Bottle is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
Contacts
J. Katrinda McQueen, Vice President, Communications
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
813-557-9088 | kmcqueen@cocacolaflorida.com
