The Indian Hill School District celebrates Indian Hill High School senior Samantha Kayne who has been named a winner of the 2025 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, earning $20,000 in college scholarships in one of the most prestigious and competitive programs in the country.
Kayne is one of only 150 students nationwide selected as a winner from more than 105,000 applicants. This distinction places her among the top high school seniors in the nation, recognizing her academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to community service.
“This is a huge accomplishment; having a winner from Indian Hill High School is such an honor and we are incredibly proud of everything Samantha has accomplished to earn this recognition,” said Indian Hill High School Principal Andy Gruber.
“While we tend to have a few semifinalists each year, reaching the Regional Finalist stage is truly exceptional, and winning this scholarship is absolutely unparalleled,” added Indian Hill High School Counselor Nollis Cottrell.
“I was inspired by the stories of previous Coca-Cola Scholars who are leading industries, supporting marginalized groups, and researching new solutions to improve our world,” said Samantha Kayne, about her application. “I wanted to join a network of vision-focused individuals who strive for collective good work. The Coca-Cola Foundation will provide me with an extraordinary community and ongoing enrichment opportunities that will expand my knowledge and exposure.”
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program, a joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers and The Coca-Cola Company, is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the U.S. Since its inception, the foundation has provided over $87 million in scholarships to more than 7,050 students nationwide.
Kayne, along with the other Regional Finalists, participated in regional interviews this month. From this group, she was one of 150 students selected as Coca-Cola Scholars and awarded $20,000 college scholarships. These scholars will also be invited to attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, where they will take part in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute and be honored at the 37th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet.
Kayne reflected on the impact of the application process, stating that it has provided her with professional development opportunities and deeper self-reflection.
“The biggest benefit of this experience has been my professional development, particularly through my interview with Coca-Cola Scholars alumni and the Senior Director of Scholarship,” said Kayne. “I also learned the importance of reflecting on my ‘why’—the motivation behind my work—so that I stay grounded in my passions and values.”
Encouraging other students to take a chance on the opportunity, Kayne added, “I didn’t expect to win, so I would strongly encourage others not to let doubt hold them back from applying. The process helped me appreciate my high school experience even more.”
Photo caption: Indian Hill High School senior Samantha Kayne was named a 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar and will be awarded $20,000 in scholarships.