Captain Shreve Senior Named Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist
Ashton Pouncy is the only student in Caddo Parish to advance to this stage of the competitive scholarship program.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Scholarships
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Ashton Pouncy, a senior at Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, has been named a semifinalist for the 2027 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. Pouncy is the only student in Caddo Parish to achieve this honor among a highly competitive pool of applicants.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights Pouncy as a leader in school and community service, distinguishing the local student among thousands of peers nationwide. The program aims to support high-achieving youth through meaningful financial investment.
The foundation reviewed over 113,000 total applications to select 1,227 semifinalists, representing roughly 1% of the applicant pool. Nationwide, 150 students will ultimately be chosen to receive $20,000 college scholarships.
The players
Ashton Pouncy
A senior at Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport who currently serves as the school's Student of the Year.
The Coca-Cola Foundation
A philanthropic organization that sponsors the national scholarship program to support leadership and service among high school students.
The details
Ashton Pouncy, who currently serves as Student of the Year at Captain Shreve High School, was selected based on a demonstrated commitment to leadership and community service. Pouncy is one of nine students from across Louisiana to advance in the selection process.
Timeline
The 2027 Coca-Cola Scholars Program cycle is currently underway.
Culture Shift
This selection follows the pattern set by the Coca-Cola Scholars Program's selection criteria, which prioritize extracurricular leadership and community service over traditional academic metrics. It reflects a broader trend of large-scale foundations leveraging national platforms to identify and reward youth-led civic engagement.
For local students, this milestone highlights the competitive requirements necessary to advance in national scholarship programs. Understanding these selection criteria can assist future applicants in Caddo Parish when preparing their own service-based portfolios for competitive awards.
The takeaway
Advancing to the semifinalist stage requires a sustained record of leadership and community involvement that begins well before the senior year. Students looking to replicate this success should focus on building measurable impact within their own school and regional organizations.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest news in Scholarships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTALnews.
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