Hauppauge High School senior Jacob Wolmetz has been named a 2026 Coca-Cola Scholar, earning a $20,000 college scholarship and recognition as one of the nation’s most outstanding student leaders. In our last issue of Horizons, the district congratulated Jacob on being selected as a semifinalist in the highly competitive program. We are now proud to share that he has advanced through the final rounds of selection and achieved Scholar status.The Coca-Cola Scholars Program honors students across the country for their academic achievement, leadership, and service to their communities.
Jacob’s journey to becoming a Coca-Cola Scholar began in September when he completed the initial application, not expecting the process to go much further. In October, he learned he had been selected as a semifinalist — an accomplishment in itself in an extremely competitive national pool of applicants. From there, he advanced through multiple rounds that included extensive essays, recommendations, transcripts, and detailed descriptions of his school and community involvement before being named one of just 25 regional finalists in the Northeast and advancing to a final interview.
“I knew it was an incredibly competitive process, but in early October, I was super excited to find out I had been chosen as a semifinalist. I went into the final interview being very authentic and true to myself; I think my interviewers especially appreciated that I wasn’t performing for them! I talked about my motivations, extracurriculars, and passions, including a brief discussion of Taylor Swift.”
Just days after the interview, Jacob received the news that he had been selected as a 2026 Coca-Cola Scholar, a moment he won’t soon forget.
“I was genuinely just in my bed watching Netflix when I got the email that I had gotten the scholarship. It was absolutely crazy - I immediately ran to my mom and called my sister. So, so grateful for this opportunity.”
Jacob expressed appreciation for those who supported him throughout the process, especially his guidance counselor, Mrs. Wanatick, and Mr. Shehigian, who provided his letter of recommendation.
As a Coca-Cola Scholar, Jacob will travel to Atlanta for the Scholars Weekend, where he will join fellow scholars from across the country for leadership development and networking opportunities.
The Hauppauge School District congratulates Jacob on this extraordinary achievement. His dedication, character, and commitment to both academics and service reflect the very best of the Hauppauge community.