By Erik Harris
CLAY – The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has been providing academic support to outstanding high school students for 26 years, and Clay-Chalkville senior point guard Hasan Abdullah just got one step closer to joining its prestigious alumni.
He recently qualified as a 2015 Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalist, joining 42 other high school scholars from around the state.
There are 2,173 total applicants that remain eligible for roughly 100 scholarships expected to be awarded at the end of January.
Clay-Chalkville senior point guard Hasan Abdullah pulls up for a shot against Pinson Valley earlier this season.
file photo by Ron Burkett
Abdullah, a point guard on the eighth-ranked Cougars’ basketball team, has shined on and off the court in his time at Clay-Chalkville. The senior holds a 4.34 grade-point average and is currently committed to the Naval Academy on a basketball scholarship.
In addition to maintaining such a high performance as a student-athlete, Abdullah volunteers as an academic tutor when he’s not helping feed the homeless. He’s also set to begin traveling to different middle schools to speak with youths on the verge of starting their high school years.
The introduction of the foundation’s website reads, “The Coca-Cola system believes that investing in students who are leaders, both academically and in service to others, will result in positive, lasting change and sustainable communities.”
CEOs, scientists and a motivational speaker make up a small portion of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s proud alumni family.
“Our ever-increasing network of Scholars is becoming a powerful force for positive change throughout the world,” the website states.
