MADISON – The only student to earn this honor in the Madison County area, Austen Wyche has received the 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship.

Based on a student’s achievements, the Coca-Cola Scholarship goes to high school seniors with a record of leading and serving at school and in the community. Each year, Coca-Cola officials named 150 scholars to receive this $20,000 scholarship.

Wyche, a senior at James Clemens High School, said his favorite subjects are Government and Economics. “It’s interesting to find the intersection of economic theory with current events. As a student interested in advocacy, Government allows me to combine both my academic and extracurricular interests,” he said.

His interests have led to work with Encode Justice, National Director of Advocacy; “The Teen View,” Founder and Chief Editor; Giffords Courage Fellow; United Way of Madison County, Chair of Youth Leaders Council; Student Government Association, Senior Class President; Key Club, Vice President; and Young Advocates for Equality, Executive President.

Wyche’s GPA is 4.0/unweighted and 5.0/weighted.

He has compiled several other honors:

* Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship – Full-tuition award for seniors to any college or university, based on leadership, community service, extracurricular activities and academics. “I am accepted into and choose to matriculate,” Wyche said.

* Torch Scholarship — From Better Business Bureau of North Alabama (seniors).

* Advanced-Placement Scholar with Distinction – For juniors.

* National African American Recognition Program Recipient – For juniors.

Coca-Cola Scholars will attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta on April 13-16. They will be guests of honor at the 35th annual banquet and participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute.

“Overall, I believe I was chosen to receive the Coca-Cola Scholarship due to my passion for advocacy and promoting equal opportunity. Whether it’s protecting the right to vote or lobbying U.S. Senators to limit harmful algorithms on social media, I’m dedicated to ensuring civil rights and civil liberties are protected for all Americans,” Wyche said.

Wyche also cited his “intellectual curiosity for the world of political science and economics. With the vast network of Coca-Cola Scholars, I’ll continue to advocate for change and seek to make an impact on my community and country.”

His parents are Max and Kia Wyche. Max Wyche is Human Resources Director for Internal Revenue Service or IRS. Kia Wyche is Human Resources Specialist for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Outside of my academics and extracurriculars, I love to go to concerts, travel and explore the unknown,” Austen Wyche said. “In the future, I look forward to studying abroad and exploring cultures across the globe.”