Choctaw Travel Plazas has launched its first-ever scholarship fund, giving community members a new way to support local tribal students. The initiative allows customers to contribute by purchasing a commemorative 32-ounce cup at any Travel Plaza across the reservation.
The fund was seeded through a partnership with Coca-Cola and is designed to help send Choctaw students to college or trade school. The cups, priced at $3.99 with a fill, became available Wednesday, April 15. At the conclusion of cup sales, the Chahta Foundation will match all donations dollar-for-dollar.
“We are incredibly excited to launch the Choctaw Travel Plaza Scholarship, which will help fund the education of our tribal youth,” said Marshall Wright, senior director of corporate marketing for Choctaw Nation. “We believe it’s integral to invest back into the communities that support our businesses, and we see no better way than to invest in their future leaders.”
The Choctaw Travel Plaza Scholarship will award at least three $1,000 scholarships to Choctaw high school seniors this year, while building a foundation to expand the number of scholarships offered annually in the future.