Have a Coke and a Scholarship

Among San Diego County high schools, the Coca-Cola symbol and athletics have been synonymous for years. Football scoreboards throughout the area feature the soft-drink logo in return for company support of school sports programs.

Now Coke wants to be associated with academic achievement as well.

Beginning in September, Coca-Cola for Scholastic Achievement will become the newest program in San Diego city schools to strengthen and reward student efforts in the classroom.

School trustees Tuesday approved an agreement with the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of San Diego to award two $500 scholarships each year to graduating seniors, as well as provide support for scholastic programs such as the Academic Decathlon, the Academic League, the Science Fair, teacher appreciation days, dropout prevention projects and the Math Field Day.

“We’ve had a good program for years stressing achievement in sports,” said Tetsuo Pettiford, youth market representative for Coke in San Diego. “Now we want to have a program for youth academically as well.”

Coke and city schools will set up an executive board, with two members from the company and four from the San Diego Unified School District, to establish a process for recognizing students, teachers and community volunteers. The Gifted and Talented Department of city schools will coordinate district efforts.