INPERSON
NA Seniors Luke Turkovich and Christopher Lee
named 2019 Coca‑Cola Scholars.
T
BY NICOLE TAFE
16
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he Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
recently named NA seniors Christopher
Lee and Luke Turkovich among the
prestigious class of 2019 Coca-Cola
Scholars—awarding them each a $20,000 college
scholarship.
Christopher and Luke were selected from a
national pool of 95,715 applicants based on their
academic excellence, leadership and service,
demonstrated in school and community activities
as part of a three-stage selection process. They
are two of 150 high school students from the
across the United States who are members of
the 31st class of Coca-Cola Scholars. This year,
North Allegheny Senior High is one of seven high
schools in Pennsylvania with students recognized
by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the
United States and The Coca‑Cola Company,
the Coca‑Cola Scholars Program is one of the
largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-
based scholarship programs of its kind. With
the addition of the 2019 class, the Coca-Cola
Scholars Foundation will have provided more
than 6,300 scholars nationwide with more than
$69 million in scholarships over the course
of 31 years. The 31st class of scholars alone
will collectively be awarded $3.1 million in
scholarships.
Luke, a McCandless resident and son of Kevin
and Marcia Turkovich, has been a three-sport
varsity athlete, in ice hockey, cross country and
track, as well as the director of North Allegheny’s
two largest philanthropies—NA Project Water
and NA Tiger Thon. He was also a member of
National Honor Society, Key Club, Students
Against Destructive Decisions (SADD),
Grandview Elementary Mentoring and DECA.
Inspired by the cross country team,
he organized a communitywide shoe drive
benefiting Soles4Souls. Luke also volunteers with
the Little Penguins youth development program
and umpires youth baseball games.
“I can’t say enough great things about my
experience at NA,” says Luke. “I consider myself
blessed to have numerous highlights from my
high school career, and owe so much thanks to
my many teachers—especially Mr. Neff and Mr.
Hull—and to my parents, who guide me each and
every day, through thick and thin.”
Luke will attend Duke University in the fall
to study Electrical & Computer Engineering or
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Computer Science and Economics. “I can’t put
into words how honored I am to be a Coca-Cola
Scholar and part of such an amazing group of
people,” says Luke. “All of the other Scholars
have already accomplished so much, and it’s
extremely humbling to be put in the same group
as all of them.”
Christopher, a McCandless resident and
son of Grace and Joon Lee, participated in
several activities and clubs during his time at
NA, including NA Project Water, Computer
Club, Science Bowl, Key Club and golf, and was
also a member of National Honor Society. As a
cellist, he enjoys performing for the community
with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra,
and has also had a great experience volunteering
with the U.S. National Park Service to rebuild
parts of the Appalachian Trail.
“My four years at North Allegheny have
been great—with the unwavering support
of my dedicated teachers who have fostered
my love of learning and tireless counselors
and administrators who have believed that I can
make a difference. I took interesting classes and
participated in activities that shaped my future
goals,” says Christopher. “My biggest inspiration
in everything has been my parents. They have
shared with me their values of thinking bigger
while pursuing my passions and, ultimately,
serving others to make our community a
better place.”
In addition to receiving college scholarships,
Coca-Cola Scholars traveled to Atlanta, Georgia,
for Scholars Weekend, where they were guests of
honor at a celebratory banquet, participated in
a leadership development curriculum and were
welcomed into a vibrant and growing family of
alumni that have become a powerful force for
positive change in the world.
“While at the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend,
I met an amazing community, including other
2019 Scholars and alumni, who have positively
impacted the world in extraordinary ways. It truly
has been inspirational and I am excited to build
the future with them,” says Christopher.
He plans to attend Harvard College this fall to
study Environmental Science and Engineering to
help create a better and more sustainable future,
adding that his dream job is “to help solve our
planet’s looming energy challenges.” ■