Senior Katy Gottlieb was named as one of 1,336 students selected as a semifinalist on October 16 for the prestigious Coca-Cola Scholars honor. Gottlieb’s selection highlights her as a standout in the 1.27% of applicants chosen to advance in the competition. Each year, over 105,000 high school seniors apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship for a chance at $20,000. Beginning with the selection of semifinalists, students are judged based on academic excellence, community service, and leadership.
Gottlieb was in shock when she received the email from the Coke Scholars Foundation. “I was in the [doctor’s office] with my mom; I almost started crying,” she recounted. Gottlieb had met a previous Coke Scholars winner this summer while at Key Club’s International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, this summer. “I met people from all around the world, and I saw one of [Key Club’s members], a girl from Georgia, she actually got [the Coke Scholarship.] I was like, ‘Oh, that’s so cool, she must be so smart,’ and then it happened to me,” she mused. A testament to her outstanding application, Gottlieb is LHS’s sole semifinalist.
Despite Gottlieb’s initial disbelief, her supporters had no doubt of how much she deserved this honor. Health and physical education teacher Brian Donaldson has worked closely with Gottlieb over the last four years in her participation in Student Government Association, as well as junior varsity soccer her freshman and sophomore years. “Finding out Katy was a Coke Scholars Semifinalist, I was super happy for her. Katy really works hard to create a positive environment, and I am glad she is being recognized for all her hard work. She is a compassionate leader who works to not only make her teammates better, but to create a positive environment in our school and community,” said Donaldson.
Principal Matthew Sarosy felt nothing but pride upon hearing the news. “Katy’s a wonderful student who really exemplifies everything that it means to be an Owl, both inside the classroom [and] outside of the classroom, and Coca Cola got it right by naming her a semifinalist. I hope that this is just the start of an exciting process here where she continues to move forward,” Sarosy shared.
The Coke Scholars preliminary application is essentially a general résumé, but Gottlieb’s is nothing short of impressive, showcasing her community and school involvement. For starters, Gottlieb called herself an “avid Key Clubber.” “I’ve been involved since freshman year; I served as social media manager, and this year I serve as vice president, and now I also serve on the district board,” she explained. Gottlieb’s role as executive assistant on the district board means she represents the entire state of New York. Her leadership continues at the local level by serving as president of START club (Students Taking Active Roles Together), treasurer of National Honor Society, and online co-editor-in-chief of Horizon. Gottlieb is also an athlete. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was four…, and then I’ve played lacrosse since third grade,” she said. Additionally, Gottlieb can be found playing the role of “STEMinist” in the research room. “Science research is another big thing for me…I’ve done that for four years. I want to be a pediatrician or a physician’s assistant in pediatrics,” Gottlieb explained. Gottlieb can also be found across the neighborhood babysitting and working at a local daycare or the Philly Pretzel Factory.
Although what can be found on paper is telling of Gottlieb’s achievements, it is her personality and character that ultimately qualify her for this honor. “I think Katy stands out because of her passion for all she does in all aspects of her life. She is dedicated to her work and strives for success,” Donaldson explained, “Beyond that, she is one of the most caring students I have had the pleasure of knowing. She goes above and beyond to make sure others are doing alright and to support her friends and family,” he added.
As for Gottlieb’s next steps, she will submit her second round of applications by Nov. 6, which includes more extensive essays, a letter of recommendation, and her official high school transcript. From then, Gottlieb will have a chance at being chosen as one of 250 finalists, and advancing to be one of 150 Coke Scholars.
Gottlieb’s advice to future seniors who are considering applying for Coke Scholars is to “Just apply!” With a smile, she said, “Personally, I never expected to win…You have to know that you’re really well capable and that you got this.”
