Craft Academy student is Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist

Maiqi Qin, a senior from Salt Lick who attends the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics at Morehead State, has been named a semifinalist for the 2021 Coca‑Cola Scholars Program. Qin is moving to the next round of the selection process to become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship.  

In addition to her studies at the Craft Academy, Qin works as the social media manager for Dear Asian Youth, a non-profit organization that seeks to diversify the Asian narrative while empowering marginalized communities. She’s also an intern with Blessed Hands, a non-profit organization that funds educational tuitions for students in the three provinces in China with an emphasis on the Yangshuo,Morehead's sister city, as well as Du'an, and Qinzhou areas of Guangxi Province, P. R. China, allowing the students to continue their education. She is also social media marketing specialist and conference moderator for the Women of Color Conference and is a community lead with Space to Speak, a youth organization that offers support and resources to victims of sexual violence.  

A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca‑Cola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. With the addition of the 2021 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 6,450 Coke Scholars nationwide with more than $75 million in scholarships over the course of 33 years. Only 1,609 Semifinalists were chosen among 99,403 applicants this year. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. With its 32nd class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the foundation has provided more than $72 million in scholarships to more than 6,300 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more at www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.

“We believe that identifying these young leaders throughout the country and encouraging their passion for serving others not only empowers the students, but also lifts up those around them.” said Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the foundation. “The Coca-Cola system is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve, and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is proud to be a part of that commitment.”

Qin will participate in round two and an independent selection committee will review those applications and select 250 regional finalists for online interviews. One hundred fifty Coca‑Cola Scholars will be named in March to receive a $20,000 college scholarship and participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.

The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics is a dual-credit residential high school for academically exceptional Kentucky students. The Craft Academy's purpose is to meet the unique educational needs of academically gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors in the Commonwealth. The academic rigor of the Craft Academy challenges students to excel at their highest level through project-based STEM+X courses and hands-on learning experiences, with emphasis on innovation, design and creativity, and civic and regional engagement. The Craft Academy has been named to Jay Mathews’ list of top-performing schools with elite students.

For more information about the Craft Academy at MSU, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy.