“I hope my story sends a message to anyone who has ever felt that their identity or any part of themselves was something to hide or fix. It isn’t. When I first moved back to the United States, I could barely speak English and struggled socially, and for a long time that made me feel out of place. But by putting myself out there, embracing my quirks and intricacies, and learning to value every part of who I am, those same experiences became a source of strength. I’ve learned to appreciate the flowers along the path to the mountain ahead, and that perspective continues to shape how I lead, learn, and show up for others,” says Dominic Mimbang, a senior at Coffee High and a recently named Coca-Cola Scholar.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the most competitive scholarship programs in the country. The application process includes multiple rounds of evaluation focused on academic achievement, leadership, service, and sustained community impact. Earning this distinction reflects an extraordinary level of dedication and excellence. Over 107,000 students apply for the scholarship. Only 150 are selected – a selection rate of .14 percent. The scholarship carries a value of $20,000.
During Dominic’s academic career, he has become one of the most decorated Coffee High School students. In addition to the Coca-Cola Scholarship, he has received a $2,000 American Legion scholarship. Dominic is also a semifinalist in a number of scholarships that will be awarded later in the school year. And as if this isn’t enough, in December, he learned that he had been accepted by Harvard University.
And that’s not all. Far from it, in fact.
His list of accomplishments reads more like a wish list of honors and accolades instead of milestones anyone has actually achieved. Here are but a few. Dominic was elected President Pro Tempore of American Legion Boys Nation, becoming the first delegate from Georgia to hold the position. In that office, he presided over the Boys Nation Senate and led legislative procedure for 100 senators selected from over 20,000 kids from across the nation. As National Education Team Lead for Work2BeWell, he has supported national youth mental health policy and education efforts reaching more than 61,000 students directly and hundreds of thousands more digitally through inclusive, culturally responsive, and multilingual curricula across 32 states and two countries. Locally, Dominic runs a project called Knowledge Empowers. He has served as Junior Mayor Pro Tempore and Finance and Legal Chair for the Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council, advising on youth policy and helping craft youth-focused resolutions, while also serving as an attorney in Coffee County Teen Court advocating for restorative justice.
Dominic also oversees national programming for Future Business Leaders of America as NSEC National Programs Director, supporting accessibility-focused leadership initiatives for over 200,000 members. He is the Coffee FBLA President, Coffee HOSA VP, NHS Treasurer, and a part of the HHS Advisory Board. Dominic was selected as a Bill of Rights Institute Student Fellow. His work has been recognized through honors including the Princeton Prize in Race Relations Accomplishment Honoree, the Georgia American Legion Youth Champion Award, Riley’s Way Youth Leadership Retreat 2025 Cohort, a three-time FBLA national winner, and he has been recognized as one of 21 most impactful teens in Georgia by the 21st Century Leaders Organization.
Dominic’s long-term goals include becoming an international human rights attorney. He would like to ensure that people’s rights are protected not only on paper but they “are legible and actionable for the communities most affected by them.” He adds: “I want to lead a social impact initiative that works to close the functional literacy gap by translating complex policy and legal language into forms people can actually understand and use.”
In the short-term, he says he would like to continue his undergraduate studies and focus on public policy and linguistics, all the while continuing to gain experience in legislative leadership, civic education, and advocacy. “I aim to strengthen my policy analysis and public communication skills while expanding youth-led efforts that increase access to mental health resources and civic information at the local and national level. I also want to engage myself within a community of new people who I can learn from and grow alongside of,” he says.
While it might be easy to think Dominic is an adult trapped in a high school setting – after all, you aren’t going to hear very many teenagers talk about complex public policy, international initiatives, and disparities caused by literacy gaps – nothing could be further from the truth. Dominic is still a kid and he enjoys all of the experiences of being a teenager. He loves to laugh, spend time with his friends, and he respects the perspectives of others. At the same time, though, everything does is purpose-driven and nothing is wasted. “I’m intentional and collaborative. I genuinely enjoy working with others and learning from perspectives different from my own, especially in spaces where ideas are challenged and refined through dialogue. I’m someone who leads with purpose, but also with openness, curiosity, and humor. I value collaboration because I believe the strongest solutions come from collective thinking, and I bring both energy and thoughtfulness into the spaces I’m part of,” he says.
Dominic cites his parents as his biggest role models and the sacrifices they have made for him have not gone unnoticed. “They’ve made sacrifices and shown resilience in building a life for our family. Watching them navigate challenges with perseverance and dignity shaped my sense of responsibility and work ethic,” says Dominic.
People may see all the accomplishments, accolades, and honors and think everything has come with ease. Such is not the case. Like everyone, Dominic has struggled with those same feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, and confusion. However, he has faced those challenges head-on and used them to fuel his drive to succeed. “Early on, I allowed other people’s expectations and labels to define my sense of worth. Especially as an immigrant, I internalized limits that weren’t actually mine, and for a time, I held myself back from opportunities because I assumed I didn’t belong in certain spaces. Over time, I realized that letting others set those boundaries only narrowed my own potential. Learning to trust my voice and define my value on my own terms has been a turning point for me,” he says.
Dominic has not decided where he will continue his education. In addition to Harvard, he has also been accepted to the University of Virginia (Echols Scholars Program), UNC-Chapel Hill (Honors and Morehead Cain full ride finalist), Georgia Tech (Stamps Scholarship semifinalist), the University of Georgia, and Georgia State. “I’m waiting to hear back from two more schools. Right now, my top choice is Harvard because of its strong emphasis on public service, interdisciplinary study, and civic engagement, as well as its amazing international community that I’d love to engage with,” he says.
Though there remains a little uncertainty as to where he will attend college, one thing is most definitely certain: You’re going to hear more from Dominic Mimbang.
A lot more.
Heather Preston contributed to this story.
