Paducah, KY - Paducah Tilghman High School senior Meg Hancock has been named a regional finalist in the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Program. Hancock is among 250 high school seniors nationwide selected from a pool of 87,060 applicants to advance in the scholarship program based on academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community.

Paducah Public Schools Superintendent Donald Shively said of Hancock, "Being named a regional finalist by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Program is further recognition of Meg's outstanding scholastic accomplishments. If one analyzes all the activities in which Meg has excelled while a student at Tilghman, one can see the numerous advantages each and every one of our students has to reach his or her full potential as a student and a human being. It's a testament to Meg, her hard work, and the support and encouragement she has been given throughout her 13 years in our school system to be honored for her achievements at the national level."

Hancock will attend Duke University in the fall where she plans to pursue Duke's philosophy, politics, and economics major at the university's Sanford School of Public Policy. Her parents are Sid and Justin Hancock.

The Coca-Cola Scholar Foundation Program was established in 1989 to reward deserving high school seniors who make positive strides in their communities and around the world. Coca-Cola has invested over 63 million dollars in students over the past 27 years. Coca-Cola Scholars become lifelong members of the Coca-Cola Foundation network.