KFC Foundation Awards $2.5 Million In Scholarships
The KFC Foundation is awarding $2.5 million in scholarships, providing over 430 KFC restaurant employees with funding to further their educational dreams. Of those, eleven received a $20,000 scholarship, and hundreds of others received a $10,000, $5,000, or $2,500 award.
The KFC Foundation Scholarship program empowers KFC restaurant employees in the U.S. to pursue their educational dreams by providing up to $20,000 in scholarships to attend the accredited four-year or two-year college, trade/vocational school, or graduate school of their choice. Since its inception in 2012, the program has awarded over $21 million in scholarships to more than 7,500 KFC restaurant employees.
The eleven $20,000 scholarship winners this year are:
| Name | City/State | Job Role | Franchisee |
| Alma Adams | Lynchburg, VA | Team Member | Tasty Chick’n |
| Chelsea Dowhy | Bethel Park, PA | Shift Supervisor | Ampex Brands |
| Priscilla Echeverria | Los Angeles, CA | Team Member | Kazi Foods |
| Kyleigh King | Arlington, WA | Team Member | NRI |
| Linda Lazo | Houston, TX | Team Member | KBP Foods |
| Lydia Love | San Antonio, TX | Team Member | Desert De Oro Food |
| Kayonn Mckoy-Clue Taylor | The Bronx, NY | Shift Supervisor | Kotes Management LLC |
| Ameena Melgoza | El Centro, CA | Shift Supervisor | Noble Pursuit, LLC |
| Jack Murphy | Cypress, TX | Shift Supervisor | Mas Restaurant Group LLC |
| Mariela Ortiz | Round Lake, IL | Team Member | Chicken Champs Inc. |
| Benjamin Saelee | Stockton, CA | Team Member | Harman Management |
Maricruz Martinez, a team member from Edinburg, TX (Franchisee: KBP Foods), was awarded the Janet L. Kuhn Scholarship, doubling her scholarship to $10,000. Each year, one scholarship recipient is selected for this prestigious award, which doubles their award amount. To be considered, applicants must complete an additional essay prompting what they want their legacy to be.
Scholarships are just one way the KFC Foundation supports, empowers, and serves joy to KFC restaurant employees and communities. The KFC Foundation also provides programs focused on financial and hardship assistance for KFC restaurant employees and community giving.
KFC restaurant employees interested in the scholarship program can go to kfcfoundation.org/scholarships to learn more, and those interested in working at a KFC restaurant can visit kfc.com/careers for more information about available job opportunities in their area.
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