Whether you are going to class or going to a game at Missouri State University, you will soon be able to enjoy all the Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper products you want.

Starting July 1, Coca- Cola and Dr Pepper products will be the exclusive drinks served on the MSU campus. The university Board of Governors awarded the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company the contract after approving the terms. The contract is guaranteed for seven years, plus one four-year renewal option.

“We have been anxious to bring our brands to the students’ experience each and every day,” said Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company CEO Edwin “Cookie” Rice. “From refreshment between classes to adding fun for fans during athletic events, all our staff looks forward to being a local partner with MSU.”

As part of the contract, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper will supply the Springfield campus beverage and vending requirements, along with other brands including: Powerade, Sprite, Fanta, Smartwater, Dasani, Vitaminwater, Minute Maid and Fuze.

To read more information about the MSU contract, go to http://news.missouristate.edu/2014/05/21/coke/.

The Springfield Coca-Cola Bottling Company was one of the original bottlers that entered into an agreement for the right to hold a Coca-Cola franchise in 1920. Today, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is an integral part of the communities they serve by supporting numerous charitable organizations, Colleges and Universities, school districts, Parks and Recreation entities, youth sports, fairs and festivals.

Today ESPN announced Dr Pepper as the first official Championship Partner and also as presenting sponsor of the new College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. In the new College Football Playoff era, the Championship Partner designation represents the highest level of sponsorship and activation. The announcement also confirms Dr Pepper’s renewal as an SEC official sponsor and their long-term commitment with ESPN and the new SEC Network.

The unique collaboration includes extensive exposure for the trophy across all of ESPN’s multimedia platforms during the regular season, including stops along the way at marquee games which could impact the championship run, as well as select College GameDay Built by the Home Depot sites. The trophy will also be featured over the course of the postseason and the College Football Playoff, in anticipation of it being presented to the winning team at the conclusion of the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015.

“Dr Pepper is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with college football through ESPN and help usher in a new era with the newly formed College Football Playoff,” said Jim Trebilcock, executive vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper Snapple Group. “The impact of this one of a kind collaboration with ESPN and the CFP is monumental. In addition, we will be able to further extend our popular Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway, where we have awarded more than $6 million dollars in tuition to students across the country since 2008.”

“Dr Pepper has many longstanding relationships in college, including ours,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “Dr Pepper’s people are top-notch and their commitment to this great game is unique and exciting. We are grateful that ESPN has secured this partnership and we are thrilled about the future of the new playoff.”

Added Ed Erhardt, President of Global Customer Marketing and Sales at ESPN, “Dr Pepper’s commitment to the new College Football Playoff and the SEC Network mean they’ll be a part of something from the ground up. It’s also great to build upon Dr Pepper’s long and established history with the conference and extend the partnership to include our launch of the SEC Network.”

Dr Pepper will continue its title sponsorship of the ACC Championship Football Game on ESPN in early December as well as presenting sponsor of the Pac-12 Championship telecast.

The deal also includes intellectual property rights and category exclusivity for all marketing and promotional activities involving the SEC and its championship events, as well as a premier position with SEC Nation, the SEC Network’s traveling campus-based pre-game show during college football season.

In addition to supporting ESPN’s coverage of the College Football Playoff, Dr Pepper is the title sponsor of the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway, a season-long program that provides tuition-based awards to deserving students across the country, culminating at the Conference Championship games and the College Football Playoff.

ESPN will have exclusive coverage of the College Football Playoff that will begin with the 2014-2015 season and feature the four top teams as selected by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. The Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl will host the first Playoff Semifinals, which will pit No. 1 versus No. 4 and No. 2 versus No. 3 on January 1, 2015. The winners of those two games will face off in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January 12, 2015.

Local business owner receives Living Legend award

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is proud to announce Edwin “Cookie” Rice received the “Living Legend” award from the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association (CCBA), as part of the association’s Centennial Celebration. Rice serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board for the family-owned company, he has served for over 60 years.

Fourteen Bottlers, from across the nation, were nominated for the Living Legend award, but only three were chosen to receive it. The winners were recognized for lifetime achievements in the industry, bringing Coca-Cola philanthropy to their communities and leadership in CCBA.

Since 1913, the CCBA has been an intricate part in helping independent bottlers bring quality products to their communities. The CCBA represents all 69 independent Coca-Cola bottling companies from across the United States, along with members in Bermuda and Puerto Rico. Their core mission is to help independent bottlers, like Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, grow their business and connect with their communities. The CCBA is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States.

The Springfield Coca-Cola Bottling Company was one of the original bottlers that entered into an agreement for the right to hold a Coca-Cola franchise in 1920. Today, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is an integral part of the communities they serve by supporting numerous charitable organizations, Colleges and Universities, school districts, Parks and Recreation entities, youth sports, fairs and festivals.

For more information about the Centennial Celebration for the CCBA, the Living Legend award, and a picture of Rice with the other winners, go to http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/centennial-celebration-coca-cola-bottlers-association-marks-milestone.

Young residents of Springfield Missouri’s Fulbright Springs subdivision will soon have a great new reason to go outside and play, thanks to Dr Pepper Snapple Group and the national nonprofit group KaBOOM! (the two groups formed a partnership called Let’s Play! designed to keep kids active), as well as Community Partnership of the Ozarks and Sustainable Housing Solutions. Let’s Play selected this subdivisions as an ideal site for one of its playground builds.

Located in North Springfield, Fulbright Springs rents environmentally friendly housing to income-qualified families. It is a young subdivision and home to dozens of children who will benefit from this new playground. The project’s build day is schedules for June 23, 2011, and will require roughly 250 volunteers.

For more information on Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s Let’s Play project, visit: http://www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com/values/lets-play/.

From now until the big game on Sunday, February 6, Coca-Cola fans can show team spirit and help out the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Coke Cheers (www.CokeCheers.com) is an interactive experience that lets football fans send a “Cheers” to their favorite team online.

For every “Cheers” fans send, Coca-Cola will donate $1 to Boys & Girls’ Club of America’s Triple Play Program (up to $250,000). This program encourages children from the ages of 6-18 to eat better, be physically active and build healthy relationships. It has changed the lives of more than four million participants across the nation, including many in Springfield, since its creation in 2004.

Sally Hargis, Vice President of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, is enthusiastic about the promotion. “We are proud to be part of a company so committed to finding innovative ways to support great causes. We think Coke Cheers will be a great success nationally, and we hope that our fans here in southwest Missouri will be a part of that success,” she said.

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company supports Boys & Girls Clubs and programs such as Triple Play on a local level as well. Triple Play is offered at all three local units of the Boys & Girls Clubs. According to Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Executive Director Pat Gartland “Boys & Girls Clubs give young people a place to belong and a chance to learn and grow, but unhealthy lifestyles put them at risk for obesity and other health problems. We want our kids to develop positive habits such as regular exercise and healthy food choices. The Triple Play program helps us to reach these goals.” For information about Triple Play please call 417-862-9249.