Fayetteville High School student named 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar
Nation’s premiere scholarship program awards $20,000 for college
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, FEB. 18, 2025 – Katherine (Kate) Hinton, an exceptional senior at Fayetteville High School, 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. Hinton plans to attend the University of Arkansas. She is the daughter of Thomas and Emily Hinton and resides in Fayetteville.
As a member of the 37th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, Hinton not only exemplifies superior leadership, service, and academics – she is a change agent, positively affecting others in the community. She is one of 150 selected from 105,000+ applicants from across the country to receive this scholarship.
Coca-Cola Scholars will attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta April 3-6, 2025, where they will be the guests of honor at the 37th 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.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is a collaborative initiative involving Coca-Cola bottlers across the country, including the local bottler Ozarks Coca-Cola in Springfield, Missouri, and The Coca-Cola Company. It is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. With the addition of the 2025 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have awarded scholarships to
more than 7,050 Coke Scholars nationwide, totaling over $87 million in scholarships over the past 37 years.
“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, those students selected as 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. Recent initiatives include a podcast called The SIP (The Coke Scholars Ignite Podcast) and the ninth year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college. Every 5 years, all alumni are invited to a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. With its 37th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the Foundation has provided more than $87 million in scholarships to over 7,050 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more at www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.
About Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned bottler operating in Missouri for 105 years. Founded by the Rice family in 1920, Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper products are manufactured in Springfield, with sales and distribution branches in Springfield, Bolivar, Joplin, Rolla, West Plains, and Northwest Arkansas. The company distributes over 650 Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper products across Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma and employs more than 850 associates. More information about Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is available at www.cocacolaozarks.com.
Bryan Webers has moved into the position of account executive II, food service on premise (FSOP) at Ozark’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. He has worked for Coca-Cola for 15 years. Other positions have included FSOP market development manager, FSOP area sales manager, FSOP channel manager, and regional sales manager. Webers and his family live in West Plains.
Shelby Bryant has been promoted to merchandising manager. He began his career at Ozarks Coca-Cola in 2021. Previous roles have included merchandiser and merchandiser supervisor. Originally from the state of Louisiana, Bryant worked in the oil and gas industry for several years. Bryant and his family reside in West Plains.
Dana Manjarrez has been appointed regional sales manager over the Rolla and West Plains regions. She has been with Ozarks since 2006 and has served as a Walmart key account manager and district sales manager for the organization. Before joining Ozarks Coca-Cola, Manjarrez was the Walmart assistant store manager in Rolla. She is a long-time resident of Rolla.
Amanda Harter has been named district sales manager. Harter has been with Ozarks Coca-Cola for nine years. Previous roles include merchandiser, Walmart key account manager, and most recently, account manager. Harter and her family are actively involved in the Rolla community.
Allen Rich has been at Ozarks for 13 years and has been promoted to district sales manager. He began his career as a merchandiser. Other positions have included merchandising manager, account manager, and relief account manager. Rich and his family reside in Lebanon.
Butler has been employed at Ozarks Coca-Cola for over 16 years, having started with the company during his senior year of high school. His previous positions include part-time merchandiser, lead merchandiser, Walmart account manager, merchandising manager, and most recently, district sales manager. He is a long-time resident of Joplin, where he lives with his family.
Michael Miner has been named senior director of sales execution at Ozarks Coca-Cola. He has been with the company for eight years, during which he has held several positions, including director of sales execution, Walmart account executive, and Walmart key account manager. Prior to joining Ozarks Coca-Cola, Miner worked as the Walmart account executive for Coca-Cola’s North America Operating Unit. He and his family live in Farmington, Arkansas.
Candice Chang has been named vice president of sales and serves on the executive leadership team. Chang has more than 15 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry with consistent and exceptional experience in leadership, sales growth, expanding market presence and cultivating lasting customer relationships. Throughout her career, she has expertly navigated both startup environments and established market players, with a proven ability to forge long-lasting partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Chang previously served as the vice president of commercial marketing at Swire Coca-Cola, USA, and as the Sam’s Club team vice president for The Coca-Cola Company in Bentonville, Arkansas. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Wren Hall has been appointed as the director of public affairs and communications. She brings 30 years of experience in public affairs, communications, and marketing to her new role. Previously, Hall was the director of community relations and development at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar and director of marketing at Baxter Health in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Southwest Baptist University.
Jon Marshall has joined the leadership team as the new director of manufacturing. With 22 years of experience in operations within the beverage industry, he previously served as the South Carolina plant director at Refresco, a global beverage solutions provider. 
SPRINGFIELD, MO, NOV. 22, 2024 – Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company announces the appointment of Matthew Howard as the new District Sales Manager for the Bolivar district area.
SPRINGFIELD, MO, OCT. 18, 2024 – Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company announces the appointment of Clint Lightle as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Bolivar and Joplin branches.