Coca-Cola UNITED pays it forward to HBCU students

By Ryan Whirty
Contributing Writer

Eight Louisiana college students were selected for an internship program that provides attendees of HBCUs with an opportunity to build on the business skills they’ve learned at their respective institutions of higher learning.

The Pay It Forward internship offered by Coca-Cola UNITED ran this year from July 24-28 and allowed recipients to learn hands-on about a complete range of business, entrepreneurial and corporate responsibilities and skills. Representatives from Coca-Cola said interns got an opportunity to create and build connections within the company and outside of it.

“Among the main goals of Pay It Forward is to teach the students, to put it simply, how to go to work,” stated a press release from the company. “The internship seeks to expose students to day-to-day business operations, the importance of networking and other important skills that will prepare them for the job market.”

Coca-Cola UNITED launched the Pay It Forward program in 2015 in Alabama and expanded it since then, including into Louisiana, said Morio Lee, director of multicultural marketing and community affairs for the company’s West Region, which is based in Baton Rouge.

Overall, more than a hundred HBCU students have gone through the internship program, at the completion of which recipients also receive a $2,000 stipend.

“It’s extremely important to give these kids these opportunities,” Lee said. “A lot of them maybe didn’t get into other schools [besides HBCUs], so we work on being able to give them opportunities [in business].”

Louisiana awardees included Sha’Cyla Allen and Jalynn Pickens from Grambling State University; Annissa Owens and Kayce Milton from Southern University; Jayden Davis and Caleb Jeanmarie from Dillard University; and Jaya Robinson and Paige Chuma from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Davis said he was extremely thrilled to be chosen for Pay It Forward.

“It is a great opportunity to learn about the world of business as well as get on-hand experiences with building relationships with powerful people, “said the sophomore mass communications major from Slidell, La. Robinson, a junior majoring in business sales and marketing from Dallas, said that XULA recommended her for the Pay It Forward Program, making her selection even more special.

“It made me feel great about myself, and my hard work didn’t go unnoticed,” Robinson said.

Lee said that hopefully the internship experience will help the students land quality jobs in their chosen fields after graduation, which “is why we see this as a great opportunity for these kids.”

“We want to nurse these young minds and make them flourish,” he said.

This article originally published in the July 31, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.