It's a winning fast food combo that fast tracks deserving students to success -- it's the Wendy’s and Coca-Cola Scholarship Program and in a recent ceremony, the 14-year-strong program added four new winners to its roster that now tops 24.

"We are here today to celebrate the educational success of outstanding young students and to announce that each of these promising primary students is being awarded a full six-year scholarship to a fine independent secondary school of his or her choice in Nassau or Grand Bahama," said Cyndi Williams-Rahming, Customer Service and PR Manager for Caribbean Bottling, distributors of Coca-Cola and the leading non-alcohol beverage company in The Bahamas.

Every two years students from public primary schools are invited to apply for one of four 6-year scholarships. From this pool, three deserving students from New Providence and one from Grand Bahama are awarded full academic scholarships to attend independent secondary schools in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

“The Wendy’s and Coca-Cola Scholarship Program has been in existence for the past 14 years and has afforded 24 well rounded, academically gifted students the opportunity to study at some of the country’s leading private high schools with 12 graduating from the program or being either fully enrolled in higher education or pursuing a career,” noted Yolanda Pawar, Marketing Manager Wendy’s Bahamas and Marco’s Pizza. “Investing in the education, mentorship and the positive development of our country’s youth is one way Wendy’s & Coca-Cola are working to help pave the way to a bright, and prosperous future.”

According to Williams-Rahming, those statistics reflect the reality -- that the program that begins with youngsters is recipe for later success.

”This partnership further solidifies Cola-Cola’s commitment to education and to an initiative providing quality education to deserving students,” said Williams-Rahming during the recent scholarship awards presentation at Wendy's, Mall at Marathon. “It is our desire to celebrate the student’s successes and encourage them to continue to excel."

Application forms are available throughout the year at all government primary schools in New Providence and Grand Bahama in addition to Wendy’s and Coca-Cola corporate offices with completed forms under review in the summer. Awards are made every other year. To remain in the program students must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Participating independent secondary schools in New Providence include Aquinas College, St. Anne’s High School, St. Augustine’s College, St. John’s College, Kingsway Academy, Queen’s College and Bishop Michael Eldon High, Grand Bahama Catholic High School and Sunland Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama.