Anika Dugal, a senior at Old Bridge High School was recently named a 2024 Coca-Cola Scholar. Dugal was one of just 150 high school seniors across the nation chosen to receive the highly prestigious and competitive award, out of a pool of over 103,000 applicants. She was selected for her exemplary academic rigor, community impact, and student leadership. Dugal was additionally awarded a $20,000 scholarship to put towards her undergraduate education.
In May, Dugal attended the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was honored at the Coke Scholars Banquet. She participated in the Coca-Cola Leadership Development Institute, where she networked with her fellow scholars and learned valuable leadership skills. She also visited the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
At Old Bridge High School, Dugal frequently volunteers her time and energy to bettering the school community. She serves as the President of the National Chinese Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Bring Change 2 Mind, and Youth & Government clubs. Dugal also serves as a U.S. Senate Youth Delegate, as one of two students chosen by the Department of Education to represent New Jersey to the United States Senate. She was recently invited to meet President Biden at the White House State of the Union Reception.
Dugal had the opportunity to nominate one educator who had significantly shaped her for the Coke Scholars Educator of Distinction Award. This distinction went to Old Bridge’s very own Maria Simone, who serves as a business law teacher and the advisor of the Old Bridge Future Business Leaders of America club.
“I truly could not have made such an impact in high school without educators like Mrs. Simone. It’s been a joy working with her through Old Bridge FBLA! Her unwavering kindness, support, and enthusiasm has taught me what it means to not just lead, but to lead with empathy,” Dugal said.
Dugal is excited to be attending Duke University as an Angier B. Duke Scholar, as 1 of 6 students chosen out Duke’s over 50,000 applicants to receive the prestigious full-ride scholarship valued at over $400,000. Angier B. Duke Scholars are chosen for their “world-changing potential”--alumni have gone on to win prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and the Rhodes Scholarship. Dugal plans to dual-major in Computer Science and Government, and aims to work in the intersection of technology and public policy.