Senior Named Coca-Cola Scholars Semifinalist
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Upper St. Clair High School senior Sofia Alfredson Themudo has been named a Semifinalist in the 2025-26 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.
She is one of only eight in the Pittsburgh region and 56 in Pennsylvania receive this recognition. Nationally, approximately 1% of the more than 107,000 applicants were selected as semifinalists.
“Only 1,238 semifinalists were chosen among over 107,000 applicants this year (because of their outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and dedication to their community,” Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, said. “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.”
A student in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Sofia is a member of the National Honor Society and was recently recognized as a National Merit Commended Student for her performance on the PSAT. She is also part of a Future Problem Solving team that earned third place at the 2025 State Bowl.
Sofia holds several leadership positions within student organizations, including president of USC Robotics, co-president of COSMOS (Community of Observers Studying Mysteries of Space), and captain of the ROGO (Robotics Offering Girls Opportunities) robotics team. In addition, she is currently completing an internship with the University of Pittsburgh Physics Department and conducting research at the Allegheny Observatory.
Semifinalists will now complete Phase 2 of the selection process, which includes essays, a recommendation, and submission of academic transcripts. An independent selection committee will review the applications and recommend 250 Regional Finalists in early January, who will participate in online interviews. In late February, 150 students will be named Coca-Cola Scholars, each receiving a $20,000 college scholarship and an invitation to attend the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, April 23-26, 2026.
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. Since its inception, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has provided over 7,000 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $87 million in educational support.
The full list of Semifinalists is available online at www.coca-colascholars.org.
- USCHS