Retired Coca Cola CEO establishes UB scholarship

BUFFALO, N.Y. – John R. Alm, retired CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises, has established a University at Buffalo scholarship for graduating seniors at Maple Grove High School in Bemus Point.

A 1973 UB School of Management alumnus, Alm established The Cheryl D. Van Marter-Alm Scholarship in honor of his late wife. Both are graduates of Maple Grove High.

Alm’s gift of $150,000 will provide up to four students with full tuition beginning in fall 2013.

“Attending UB gave me exposure to people who lived very differently from me and opened doors to a new world,” Alm said.  “I hope this scholarship will provide a similar opportunity to Maple Grove students.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be graduates of Maple Grove High School and be accepted into UB. They also must demonstrate financial need and plan to live on campus. Recipients may attend any of the UB schools, but preference will be given to those interested in the School of Management.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for Maple Grove students and a coveted scholarship for students to strive for,” said Edward Turkasz Jr., Maple Grove’s principal.

“John has a passion for providing educational opportunities to underserved youth,” said Arjang Assad, dean of the School of Management. “This scholarship is an apt demonstration of this.

Alm received the Distinguished Alumni award in 2011 from the UB Alumni Association. He owns and operates a large ranch in Hyattville, Wyoming, that includes Camp Paintrock, a summer camp for inner-city youth from Los Angeles.

The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and economic impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit mgt.buffalo.edu.