Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards HACC-Gettysburg student $1,000 scholarship
Recipient is one of two HACC students nationally to receive scholarship
Oct. 8, 2008
GETTYSBURG – Maria Zavala, a student at the Gettysburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, received a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the Foundation awards 400 scholarships annually to students attending higher-education institutions granting two-year degrees. All recipients have demonstrated academic success and participated in community service within the past 12 months.
Zavala is a full-time HACC student and a student worker in the HACC-Gettysburg library. As vice-president of the campus’ Bilingual Club, she participates in fund raising events and outreach activities to the Latino community. She also works part-time at the Gettysburg Hospital as an interpreter for doctors and patients.
As a volunteer, she provides translation services, assistance with interpretation of forms and information, and transportation to medical appointments for members of the Latino community. She also volunteers at the Adams County Library reading books to bilingual children.
Zavala said that her educational goal is to achieve an associate degree in social science and continue for a bachelor’s degree in human services so she can obtain a position assisting minorities. She believes that attending college has given her self confidence and a positive circle of individuals who care about her future. She comes from a large household, and she wants to help her family and other members of her community go to college also.
The second HACC student to receive the scholarship is Karolyn Kunzman, Enola, a dental hygiene student attending the Harrisburg Campus.
The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program is made possible with funding from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. The Whitehead Foundation provides grants in support of human services initiatives. The late Joseph B. Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola.
