The Coca-Cola Company and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) have selected the first recipients of the national Coca-Cola Community All-Americans award. The Coca-Cola Community All-Americans program recognizes student-athletes who are making a difference in their community.

Winners were selected from NCAA institutions representing Division I-A, Division I-AA/I-AAA, Division II and Division III. Award recipients also were announced for the NAIA and junior/community college categories. In addition to the winners being recognized at the annual NACDA convention, Coca-Cola will make a $5,000 donation to the community/philanthropic cause of each recipient's choice.

This year's Coca-Cola Community All-Americans (with donor recipients) are:

William Betz, Brigham Young University, Division I-A (Health Education and Lifestyle Progress and Early Childhood Learning Foundation);

Alana Healy, University of San Francisco, Division I-AA/AAA (McCarthy Center for Public Service and Common Good, Umthombo Research and Action -- South Africa);

Alisse Ali-Christie, University of California, Davis, Division II (American Indian Child Resource Center, Indian Education Center);

Joanna Perini, Washington and Lee University, Division III (Central Elementary School);

Jonathan Tyler Coats, Berry College, NAIA (Habitat for Humanity); and

Cheri Wilson, Meridian (Mississippi) Community College (Hope Village).

"The Coca-Cola Community All-Americans program is an annual, integrated, hands-on approach that inspires coaches and student-athletes to contribute time and energy through community volunteer programs," said John Egan, Coca-Cola's group director of colleges and universities. "Our partnership with NACDA gives us a platform for all schools and local Coca-Cola bottlers to recognize student-athletes for their tremendous contributions to the communities in which they live, work and play."

Nominations for the Coca-Cola Community All-Americans recognition program come from athletics administrators, coaches and student-athletes. Athletics directors review their institution's submissions and select one student-athlete as their school's Coca-Cola Community All-American. Those winners are then nominated for consideration in the national recognition program.

"The program provides well-deserved recognition for the many student-athletes and institutions that have demonstrated a history of supporting community service," said NACDA President Judy Rose, athletics director at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

Following are brief summaries of the Coca-Cola Community All-Americans selected from NCAA institutions:

William Betz

Betz, a business management major and former captain of Brigham Young's men's swimming and diving team, graduated with a degree in business management. He is a two-time academic all-American and three-time all-Mountain West Conference scholar.

Betz spent one month in each of the last three summers and one Christmas season offering humanitarian aid in El Salvador. In four months, he served 1,800 hours assisting in El Salvador, not including the many hours of preparation he spent collecting clothes, wheelchairs and medical supplies.

Alana Healy

Healy is a soccer student-athlete and graphics design major at San Francisco. The all-West Coast Conference academic selection spent every Tuesday night of her freshman year working with homeless families at a San Francisco community center. Later that summer, she worked as an assistant director with Habitat for Humanity, where in addition to helping build 20 houses in two weeks, she found sponsors, organized volunteers and planned each project.

As a sophomore, Healy traveled to South Africa and spent six weeks working with children who had been living on the streets. She also became involved with an organization in South Africa that helps women cope with AIDS. During her senior year, she worked with an organization called Hospitality House, where she taught art to homeless and under-privileged individuals.

Alisse Ali-Christie

Ali-Christie is a UC Davis graduate, having earned degrees in Native American studies and anthropology. A four-year tennis player and captain in her last two seasons, Ali-Christie was the Native American Student Union President. She received the UC Davis Outstanding Senior Leadership Award and NACDA's John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Award.

Ali-Christie has been working with the Cross-Cultural Center at UC Davis as a liaison with the ethnic community since her graduation. Her community-outreach efforts have included working for the California Indian Manpower Consortium, finding part-time and full-time jobs and financial assistance for Native Americans; administering Have a Heart Week, a conference-wide food drive; and coordinating an Adopt-a-Family program with the UC Davis tennis team. She also volunteered at the Shriner's Hospital, setting up a party for burn victims and children with physical impairments.

Joanna Perini

Perini, a four-year letter-winner in lacrosse at Washington and Lee, graduated with a double major in public policy and psychology. She was named honorable mention all-America, all-Region and all-conference as a goalie. Perini worked with the Nabors Service League on the South River Relief Project, helping to raise money and collect food and clothing for victims of Hurricane Isabel. She also participated in Fall Service Day, a campus-wide day of volunteerism that helped community organizations such as Habi tat for Humanity and nursing homes. Perini was awarded the Rupert Latture Outstanding Sophomore Award, given by Omicron Delta Kappa for her selfless giving and excellent leadership.