Paying It Forward: Former $25K Scholarship Recipients Share Their Journeys

Scholarships provide financial stability for former Team Members, Community Scholars during education

For 53 years, Chick-fil-A has invested in the education of restaurant Team Members and community leaders through its scholarship programs. Through the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures™ Scholarships program, more than $245 million has been awarded to Team Members pursuing higher education since 1973.  

At least 12 restaurant Team Members and 12 service-minded community leaders, known as Chick-fil-A Community Scholars, receive $25,000 scholarships annually. While these recipients pursue a number of different paths, restaurant Team Members share a similar takeaway from their time at Chick-fil-A^®: lessons in service, hospitality and leadership that continue shaping how they care for others. 

Turning Hospitality into a Career in Law: Estefanny Perez-Martinez
Estefanny Perez-Martinez grew up in Carrollton, Georgia, raised by a single mother and determined to pursue higher education.

While working at Chick-fil-A Carrollton, she was encouraged by restaurant leaders to apply for the Remarkable Futures Scholarship. After receiving $25,000, she graduated debt-free from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

Estefanny also participated in an optional year-long leadership and mentorship opportunity for recipients of a $25,000 scholarship. Here, she developed a meaningful relationship with the mentor she was assigned.

“She felt like an older sister,” Estefanny said of her mentor, who gave her advice on everything from time management to navigating college as a first-generation student. “If people asked about highlights of my life, that would be a chapter for sure.”

Today, Estefanny works as a legal assistant at an elder law and estate planning firm in Atlanta, helping families navigate difficult decisions about caring for loved ones and protecting their legacy. In her daily work, she still draws on lessons from her time as a Team Member, especially the idea of caring for people in small, meaningful ways.

“Whether in personal or professional settings, I’m thinking about how I can make someone’s job a little easier,” she said.

From Team Member to Aspiring Local Owner-Operator: Jacob Munton
Jacob Munton joined Chick-fil-A Spanish Fork in Utah while studying human resources management at Brigham Young University. Newly married, he and his wife were both full-time students while balancing work and tuition.

Encouraged by local Owner-Operator Scott Rasband, Jacob applied for a Remarkable Futures Scholarship and received $25,000, support that helped him finish his degree. As a first-generation college student, the moment was life changing.

“It completely changed the trajectory of my life,” Jacob said. “The scholarship helped me get an education and that’s incredibly meaningful. I’m forever grateful for that.”

“It completely changed the trajectory of my life. The scholarship helped me get an education and that’s incredibly meaningful. I’m
forever grateful for that.”

Jacob Munton, Operations Director, Chick-fil-A

Jacob’s time as a Team Member deepened his interest in leadership and service. After progressing through restaurant leadership roles and participating in the Chick-fil-A^® Leadership Development Program, he now serves as Operations Director for two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Southern California and is working toward becoming a local Owner-Operator.

The lessons he learned early on still guide his leadership.

“It’s so inspiring to go beyond what our everyday is,” he said. “At Chick-fil-A, we get to make a difference in people’s day-to-day lives.”

From Serving Guests to Caring for Patients: Karina Juarez
Karina Juarez started working at Chick-fil-A Gate City in Greensboro, North Carolina, as a high school student. It was her first job, and she quickly learned the rhythms of teamwork, hospitality, and customer care as a trainer for new Team Members.

The $25,000 Remarkable Futures Scholarship Karina received as a Team Member helped her complete nursing school debt-free, but the year-long leadership development program also created meaningful opportunities for mentorship and connection with other scholarship recipients and Chick-fil-A, Inc. Staff.

Years later, those same skills now guide her work as a registered nurse in a neuro-trauma unit.

“Working in customer service definitely prepared me for nursing,” she said. “The compassion, communication and teamwork I learned there helped me begin my nursing journey.”

Now a mentor for nursing students in clinical rotations, she applies the same leadership and training skills to support the next generation of nurses.

Preparing for Leadership in the Skies: Ethan Schneider
Ethan Schneider never worked at a Chick-fil-A restaurant, but he joined the Chick-fil-A family through the Chick-fil-A Community Scholars program. Each year, the program awards $25,000 scholarships to students who do not work for a Chick-fil-A restaurant and demonstrate strong academic achievement and service. These students can also participate in an optional one-year leadership development program and mentoring.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Ethan pursued a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at Purdue University as he worked toward his long-term goal of becoming an astronaut. The Community Scholars program helped not only financially, but by connecting him with a mentor who’d walked in his shoes.

His Staff mentor was a Navy veteran who helped guide Ethan through the transition from military college to civilian university life.

“It’s nice to have someone who speaks the same language as you and can help you navigate everything,” Ethan said. “Getting someone who wants to be your mentor and was sought out because they would be able to support you is such a special experience.”

After Ethan graduated with his master’s degree, he and his mentor stayed in touch as Ethan began his service in the Navy. His mentor even connected him with fellow Naval officers who offered support and advice as he began his next chapter. Those conversations helped shape Ethan’s view of leadership: guiding others with empathy and encouragement.

“Helping people become the best version of themselves is what leadership looks like,” Ethan said.

From Empowering Team Members to Powering Communities: Kossi Ekpe
While studying electrical engineering at Clemson University, Kossi Ekpe worked as a Team Trainer at Chick-fil-A Anderson Mall in South Carolina.

He was awarded the $25,000 Remarkable Futures Scholarship in 2017 in the midst of balancing classes, shifts and late-night study sessions. This helped ease financial pressure and allowed Kossi to focus on finishing his degree. Today, he works as an electrical engineer designing systems that power communities and support everyday life.

Kossi says that his time at Chick-fil-A strengthened habits that continue to shape his career — discipline, attention to detail and service for others.

“I am passionate about using my skills to help power and support my community,” he said.