Ben Robbins, a senior at Grand Island Senior High School, has been named as a semifinalist in the 2007-2008 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

Robbins is one of 2,000 semifinalists selected nationally for the 20th annual award and is competing to be selected as a finalist.

The program recognizes extraordinary high school seniors who have demonstrated academic and civic excellence in their schools and communities.

The semifinalists are also competing for $3 million in college scholarships that the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will award in spring 2008.

Robbins is the first Grand Islan) student to be named a semifinalist in at least 15 years.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint effort of Coca-Cola Bottlers across America and the Coca-Cola Co., is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States.

The foundation received more than 79,000 applications this year. As semifinalists, students must submit additional information that will be reviewed by a committee comprised of 30 educators from high schools and universities throughout the United States. If advanced, Robbins will be among 250 finalists who will travel to Atlanta in April to attend the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend.