Byron Brown, Jr., an exceptional senior at Cardinal Hayes High School in Bronx, NY, has been recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and has been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship.
Brown is one of just 150 recipients selected from more than 107,000 applicants nationwide — an acceptance rate of less than 1/7th of 1%. This highly competitive scholarship recognizes exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and service, evaluated through a rigorous three‑stage selection process. See the full list of 2026 Scholars here.
As a member of the 38th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, Brown not only exemplifies superior leadership, service, and academics — he is a change agent, positively affecting others in the community. While pursuing his academic and professional goals, he has remained deeply committed to service — particularly in addressing gaps in healthcare access and information. Brown has supported his community by volunteering in local nursing homes, where he assists older adults with nutrition and diet education, and by visiting community spaces to engage vulnerable populations in conversations about drug-use prevention.
Witnessing his grandmother’s struggle with Type II diabetes — and the challenges his family faced navigating the healthcare system — exposed Brown to the realities of inequitable access to care. Seeing how limited resources affected her treatment inspired him to take action. In response, Brown founded the nonprofit Care Without Barriers (in the Co-op City cooperative housing development) to expand healthcare awareness and access for youth in underserved communities.
“My grandmother’s diabetes diagnosis exposed me to the real-life consequences of healthcare disparities and fueled my interest in medicine,” said Brown. “Beyond motivation, those experiences also gave me a unique perspective on the different challenges people face when accessing care.”
Coca-Cola Scholars will attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta April 23-26, 2026, where they will be the guests of honor at the 38th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet and participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni. Collectively, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will award $3.1 million in college scholarships to these outstanding young leaders.
Following his graduation, Brown plans to attend a four-year university where he will study neuroscience on a pre-medical track. He hopes to become a neurosurgeon while remaining deeply involved in public health advocacy, working to improve healthcare access and expand medical resources for underserved communities worldwide.
“Becoming a Coca-Cola Scholar has been incredibly meaningful because it connects me to a community of leaders who are committed to service and impact,” shared Brown. “Learning from the experiences of other scholars and alumni will help guide me as I continue pursuing medicine and expanding my advocacy work in healthcare.”
A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the U.S. 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 2026 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 7,200 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $90 million in scholarships as it celebrates 40 years of impact since its founding in 1986.
“Liberty Coca-Cola is incredibly proud of the 2026 scholars from our territory, whose dedication, resilience, and brilliance reflect the very best of our communities,” said Mayra Linares‑Garcia, Vice President of Public Affairs & Communications at Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, the local Coca-Cola bottler and distributor. “Their achievements already demonstrate the power of young people to shape a brighter future, and we are honored to support them as they continue to inspire positive change in their communities and our world.”
“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.”
In addition to receiving college scholarships, the new Coca-Cola Scholars will be welcomed into a vibrant and growing community of alumni that has become a powerful force for positive change in the world. Through networking, collaborations, and friendships, the group strives to make a greater impact together. Unique opportunities include a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college, professional and personal development programming, and a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit every five years.
About the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation empowers visionary leaders refreshing the world. Celebrating 40 years of impact since 1986, the Foundation has provided more than $90 million in scholarships to over 7,200 Coke Scholars who together have become a powerful force for positive change.
For more information, please visit coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.
About Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, LLC
Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, LLC is a privately-owned bottler that operates production facilities in Philadelphia, PA, Moorestown, NJ, and Elmsford, NY and sales and distribution centers in Philadelphia, PA, Marmora and South Brunswick, NJ; the Bronx, Maspeth, Elmsford, New Windsor, and Smithtown, NY.
For more information, please visit LibertyCoke.com, and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
