Alumni News | 03/01/2024

By: Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

February 2024 Accolades

CEO and Founder of Dot Labs, Heather Bowerman (2002), found herself and her company featured on NASDAQ’s iconic billboard in Times Square. Dot Labs was one of 23 out of 7,000 companies who were selected globally for investment by the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab. Dot Labs develops breakthrough, actionable AI and ML technologies that lead to better health outcomes for women, starting with the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Companies can apply for Morgan Stanley’s in-house startup accelerator that promotes financial inclusion and provides access to capital for early-stage technology and technology-enabled companies by March 15, 2024.

Eric Veal, Jr. (2022) was accepted to the Institute for Responsible Citizenship’s Class of 2025. From hundreds of applications, the Institute selects some of the nation’s best and brightest African American male college students to participate in its Washington Program.

A sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Political Science and Secondary Education, Eric has a deep desire to foster equitable and culturally reflective classrooms. In high school, Eric was elected president of the Student State Board for the Illinois State Board of Education and was appointed by the Governor of Illinois as the first student Co-chair of the Illinois Educational Equity Committee. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes Youth. Last summer he interned with XQ Institute, an organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience. He hails from Chicago, IL. (Bio from The Institute of Responsible Leadership)

Kristina Skrela Gisonde (1999), a Yearbook Sales Rep at Herff Jones, was inducted into her company’s Hall of Fame for her 20 years of service and top sales volume.