<p>Official list of 2014 semifinalists is out! [2014</a> Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalists - Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation](<a href=“Programs - Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation”>Programs - Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation)</p>
<p>woahh… thats ALOT of people from my state. Hopefully they assign winners based on population and general numbers across the country…otherwise I won’t have a CHANCE!</p>
<p>Coca Cola posted a list of all the semifinalists from each state today. The list can be found at the link below. 
[2014</a> Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalists - Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation](<a href=“Programs - Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation”>Programs - Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation)</p>
<p>Oops just realized someone already posted it! Sorry!</p>
<p>My son was notified in November (via two separate emails) that he was a semifinalist but his name is not on the semifinalist list. He has emailed Coke about this but in the mean time, I’d like to know if anyone else is in the same situation. Thanks.</p>
<p>OK, the following was my top 10 essay:</p>
<p>This is my top-ten “bucket list.”
- I want to become a sports broadcaster for a national sports network. The sports leagues I hope to specialize in are NBA and NASCAR.
- I want to visit every major league sports stadium in the United States. This would include all MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL stadiums, plus every NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. I love learning about the unique aspects and histories of every stadium I visit. I also want to see The Masters golf tournament in person.
- I hope to earn a private pilot’s license. I’ve always loved the feeling of flying, especially after I took the aviation merit badge. Getting a license would allow me to enjoy flying as a hobby and commute across the U.S. for my job on my own.
- I want to help my current high school fund a multi-purpose room. My school is attempting to become part of the California Interscholastic Federation, but they can’t compete in sports like basketball and volleyball without a gymnasium. Between covering sports and playing them for years, I know the importance of sports for students. My school could expand their current identity as an arts school by adding their own sports teams, something that my school currently doesn’t have. This school gave me so much in terms of knowledge, advice, and experiences that helping them fund a much needed multi-purpose room is the least I can do to say thank you.
- I hope to become a Senior DeMolay when I become 21. After college, I want to return to DeMolay as a Chapter advisor, so I can help future DeMolays have the same amazing experiences DeMolay has given me.
- I want to continue competing in the Special Olympics the rest of my life, as it will help keep me active and allow me to meet new people. When I don’t compete, I want to volunteer as an announcer or a sport official.
- I want to own a dirt bike, an ATV, and a jet ski so I can enjoy riding in my free time and discover places in nature I have not seen.
- I have been fond of trains for many years and I would like to become certified in driving one. I already have some experience because I took a one hour course in a locomotive and learned how to drive it.
- I would like to go horseback riding more often and compete in equestrian competitions. I rode therapeutic horses before and I liked riding because it allowed me to form special bonds with the horses and gain new experiences.
- I would like to volunteer as a judge for local and regional spelling bees. I finished second two times in regional spelling bees years ago, just missing the nationals in Washington D.C. I enjoyed competing in the bees and I watch the National Spelling Bee every year, so I want to donate some of my time to this competition.</p>
<p>For the short responses, I talked about my Eagle Project, how I’ve overcame autism and Crohn’s Disease, and how the interests and careers of my family has influenced my career choice.</p>
<p>@Intothewoods I’m in the same boat</p>
<p>@Xxali1096, my son has since heard back from Coca Cola that his name was inadvertently left out due to a glitch in their system, and that he IS a semifinalist. Hoping all works out for you, too. They said he’ll hear back from them some time next week, by the way.</p>
<p>IntoTheWoods, I thought that would be the case. It’s good that you were able to confirm.</p>
<p>@IntoTheWoods- did Coca Cola say that him hearing next week would be through mail or email?</p>
<p>@IntoTheWoods
If by “hear back from them next week” you mean Finalist notifications, I have the same question as mich5225. I don’t want to find out through the mail. Would rather receive an email/online notification.</p>
<p>mich and matrix, the Coke email just said, “You should be hearing from us some time next week”. Not sure if that is by mail or email or both, though I would think both, like how they informed you all about your semifinalist status.</p>
<p>@IntoTheWoods
Thanks for the info! Yea I am guessing they will utilize both mail and email as they did before but let us hope that they don’t have the same problem of “acceptance AND rejection” that happened last round cause that would be so nerve-wrecking!</p>
<p>I’m really looking forward to recieving the news</p>
<p>Found the following items on the internet and found them interesting:</p>
<p>Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Inc.
National Selection Committee</p>
<p>Interview Guidelines
- The interview schedule provides 20 minutes for each Finalist’s interview, with a five-minute discussion period after each. Due to the large number of interviewees, these time requirements must be adhered to strictly. There will be additional time for discussion during morning, afternoon, and lunch breaks, as well as at the end of each day.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Committee members are encouraged to refer to the Foundation’s<br>
Selection Criteria throughout the interview process.</p></li>
<li><p>Interviews should focus on gathering as much additional information as possible about each candidate, with particular emphasis on the Finalist’s thought processes. As a result, questions should tend to be thought-provoking rather than factual, focusing on the Finalist’s ideas, activities, interests, plans, etc. </p>
<p>The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation does not require that each Finalist be asked the same questions. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences and the individuality of these young people makes evaluation of them difficult when you focus on only one question or one aspect of their character.</p>
<p>Obviously, these young people are still maturing and exploring various viewpoints and philosophies of our world. Consequently, it is not appropriate to utilize a politically or morally sensitive question as a litmus test. In fact, no single question should be used as a benchmark for selecting National and Regional Scholars. Rather, you should focus on extending the information available to you from the Finalist’s written materials. You want to find out what they think and why, but without making them feel threatened or uncomfortable or uncertain about their beliefs. </p>
<p>As examples of questions to ask, please see the attached list. Please note that these are only examples and are certainly not an exclusive list. In order to place the Finalist at ease, I would recommend that the interview begin with a “softball” question. This will help alleviate any nervousness and open up the minds of the young men and women.
NSC Interview Guidelines
Page 2</p></li>
<li><p>At the end of each interview, committee members should discuss the candidate and fill in a preliminary rating of their individual evaluations of the Finalist’s qualifications to be a National Scholar. The scoring procedure is explained in the enclosed Scoring Procedure form. Basically, each Finalist should be rated on a 1-3 scale, with “+” and “-” used to fine-tune the ratings.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> Each committee need only identify those Finalists to be designated as National Scholars from their Selection District; the other Finalists will automatically be named Regional Scholars. However, it is important that the next best scoring candidate be identified in the event that an alternate is required. See the enclosed Allocation Chart for the number of National Scholars for your Selection District.
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>The interview schedule indicates short breaks are scheduled in the morning and afternoon. These are intended to allow committee members to get refreshments, make telephone calls, receive messages, etc. We do ask that all members observe the time schedules closely so that interviews are not thrown off schedule.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> Once the interview schedule is completed on Saturday, each committee’s sub-chairperson should compile the committee’s results for the wrap-up meeting with the Foundation staff.
</code></pre></li>
</ol>
<p>Also found this:</p>
<p>Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Inc.
National Selection Committee</p>
<p>Scoring Procedure
- Each Committee member should rate each candidate on the following scale:</p>
<pre><code> 3 Definitely a National Scholar
2 Possibly a National Scholar
1 Definitely not a National Scholar
</code></pre>
<ol>
<li><p>The use of "+ " or " - " should be used to “fine tune” your evaluations, and in the totaling of the scores they should be counted as follows:</p>
<pre><code>1- = 0.7
1 = 1.0
1+ = 1.3
2- = 1.7
2 = 2.0
2+ = 2.3
3- = 2.7
3 = 3.0
3+ = 3.3
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Scores may be changed as the interviews progress and a better overall feel for the finalist group is developed. After the interview of the last finalist from each Selection District, the Committee sub-chairman should compile the scores of all of that District’s finalists and rank them from first to last.</p></li>
<li><p>Using the scoring procedure outlined above, Committee members will identify the highest scores obtained in determining the finalists, who will be designated National Scholars from their respective Selection Districts, according to the Allocation Chart. All other finalists will automatically be designated Regional Scholars.</p></li>
<li><p>National Scholars will be awarded $5,000 scholarships, renewable for four years of study. Regional Scholars will receive $2,500 scholarships, renewable for four years.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>where did you find this?</p>
<p>internet searched and they came up as word documents. They might be old, but still provided some insight.</p>
<p>Coca Cola Scholars posted on their instagram page that the finalists have been selected! Good luck to everyone! Hopefully we will know within the next week. :)</p>
<p>Some good info mich5225! Although I don’t know it would apply to us because of the changes I. Am sure the interviews will follow the same formula this year. But as of now I am simply worrying about and hoping for the best for getting to that stage haha</p>