Knoll a finalist in Coca-Cola scholars program

Coeur d'Alene High School senior Alex Knoll has made the cut as a regional finalist from more than 91,000 original applicants for a Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship worth $20,000.

“I am excited to have been selected as a Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation regional finalist,” Knoll said. “It's a tremendous honor to be part of a group of young people who have made a positive impact in their communities through leadership, volunteering and an overall passion for making the world a better place.”

The final 150 award recipients will be chosen from the 250 regional finalists by a Regional Interview Committee. The committee will be made up of a scholars foundation staff member and previous Coca-Cola scholarship recipients.

If Knoll is awarded the scholarship, he will use it to study entrepreneurship and innovation with the goal of serving others.

“I look forward to developing a better understanding of the global economy and different markets, which can help me identify potential opportunities where I can improve the lives of others," he said.

In addition to the scholarship grants, recipients join a leadership and mentorship community, where they can network and collaborate with other Coke scholars and mentor the next year's class of scholars.

The entire teaching community would celebrate a win for Knoll, if he's selected in March.

“Alex is a fantastic student and an even better person,” said Shon Hocker, superintendent of Coeur d’Alene Public Schools. “He is creative, inventive, and, most importantly, caring. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program recognizes students who make an impact on their community and Alex definitely fits this requirement. We are all hopeful to hear his name announced as a recipient in March.”

The scholarship program is achievement-based for students in their final year of high school, and Knoll has already racked up major accomplishments in his life.

He was featured on “Ellen, the Ellen Degeneres Show” when at 9 years old he designed Ability App, an app to help people in wheelchairs find accessible shops.

Knoll entered Ability App into a student invention competition, Invent Idaho, which he won, as well as the Discovery 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge for the state of Idaho, and the Global AT&T Inventor’s Challenge, according to his website.

With national attention, the Ability App was further developed to include cognitive, mobility, vision or hearing impairments and guide users to jobs, services and facilities. The app launched globally in May of 2020.

Knoll was also selected as a Diana Award recipient in 2020, and travels the world giving motivational speeches on inclusion, kindness and innovation in places like Lucerne Switzerland.