Abdel Raoul has been selected to attend the Coca Cola America’s Future Event held September 19-22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Raoul was chosen from a pool of national applicants as one of five semi-finalists to attend this special event.

“It’s truly an honor to be one of the five semi-finalists for the Coca-Cola scholarship, and I feel blessed that The First Tee has given me the opportunity to represent my Chapter as its first recipient,” said Raoul.

The semi-finalists have been awarded a chance to experience working at one of the largest corporations in the world.  They will spend two days in the heart of downtown Atlanta visiting the Coca-Cola campus, attending a new-hire training, and meeting with executives.

The event coincides with the 2018 TOUR Championship at nearby East Lake Country Club, where Coca-Cola executives will conduct on-site interviews of the five semi-finalists to determine the winner of a one-time $5,000 scholarship. The four remaining semi-finalists will receive $1,000 each as a one-time award.

“I hope to use the scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation towards a degree in either mechanical engineering or economics,” said Raoul. “The scholarship will help my family pay for the many college expenses to come,” he added.

Raoul, currently a senior at Mount Carmel high school, has been involved in First Tee programming for nine years. He has represented The First Tee of Greater Chicago well at the national level, attending other national events including The First Tee College Golf Prep Academy and the Nancy Tenant Leadership Academy in the past.

“I believe my involvement and exposure over the past few years attending the many camps and leadership experiences provided by The First Tee has helped prepare me for this moment,” Raoul acknowledged. “The Nine Core values and Nine Healthy Habits reinforce my upbringing and have made me a better student, athlete, and an overall better person,” he added.