For the second consecutive year, 34 incoming and current students at historically Black colleges and universities will move a step closer to realizing their educational aspirations. McDonald’s USA, through its Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program and its partner the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, will award the selected students scholarships up to $15,000 for the 2021-2022 academic year, for a total of $500,000. McDonald’s created the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program and spearheaded this effort to enable HBCU students to continue their education amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused financial strain on many students and their families. Rolling out spoke with talk with Herbert J. Thomas III, a McDonald’s owner-operator, about the program.
Why did McDonald’s and TMCF decide to fill the gap in providing educational opportunities to incoming and current HBCU students?
We understand that a financial barrier exists for Black youth who want to attend college, and that heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, last year, McDonald’s and its franchisees put more money into the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program to help HBCU students continue their education due to the financial strain COVID put on many students and their families. As we continue to navigate the pandemic, we at McDonald’s, franchisees and the corporation, will continue feeding and fostering our communities, which includes providing skills, training and education programs that support people who are building a path forward and achieving their goals, no matter where they are in life.
In addition to the Black and Positively Golden Scholarship Program for African Americans, what other minority educational awards are there for other students of color?
We have a legacy of supporting the diverse communities we live and operate in. In addition to the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program, we offer scholarships for Hispanic students and Asian American students annually. These programs have supported a number of students on their path to higher learning. We also have a dedicated annual education workshop series, which provides both Hispanic and Asian American students and their families resources to navigate the intensive college admissions process.
We at McDonald’s are committed to helping employees further their education and achieve their dreams through our Archways to Opportunity® Program. Because of this program, we have increased education access to more than 55,000 restaurant employees and awarded more than $100 million in tuition assistance to date.
Read more and learn how to apply on the next page.
