SNOW HILL — A local student is among 252 high school seniors selected for the 2013 Class of Coca-Cola Scholars.
Kirsten Bubak, a Greene Central High School senior, will travel to Atlanta, joining the class to compete for either a $20,000 four-year scholarship or a $10,000 scholarship. The four-day weekend — beginning April 18 — will include a selection committee interview and service opportunities for the group.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation program is based on outstanding community service, a category with which Bubak, 18, strongly identifies, having years of service projects under her belt.
“I love to help people,” she said. “I figured I’d be a good candidate for the (scholarship).”
She applied with more than 100,000 applicants and advanced into the class out of 2,200 semi-finalists across the nation.
“I was beyond excited when I found out I was selected a 2013 Coca-Cola Scholar,” Bubak said. “I’m really proud of myself. I’m proud to call myself a 2013 Coca-Cola Scholar because it is such an esteemed group of individuals.”
For Bubak’s first time in Atlanta, she is expecting an “enlightening experience” with the other scholars in the class, many already connecting via a Facebook group.
The Snow Hill native volunteers in Greene County community organizations and at ECU football and baseball games. Last year, she and her friends created AIM (achieve, inspire and motivate) for a N.C. State University project. The goal was to combat high school dropout rates.
Although they didn’t win the $5,000 grant prize, Bubak hopes AIM continues.
When she starts her freshman year at UNC this fall, she’ll join a community service organization. Her probable major is a dual in English — her favorite subject — and history.
“Academics are my No. 1 priority,” Bubak said. “I feel like it’s a chance to fulfill my goals and dreams in life. It is my main outlet for doing.”
Although she is serious about school, Bubak wants to enjoy college while she is there. With reading, singing and trying new adventures as hobbies, nothing means more to her than to stay involved in community service.
“It’s an unexplainable feeling,” she said about it. “It’s always great to get help from someone when you need it. I just get this joy from helping people that I can’t get from doing anything else.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
BREAKOUT BOX:
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
n Created in 1986
n Provided 5,000 scholarships nationwide with nearly $50 million since inception
n Open to all high school seniors in the United States
2013 Class
n 252 students
n 200 $10,000 scholarships
n 52 $20,000 scholarships