When you think about McDonald’s, you probably think of burgers and fries, not scholarships and grants. However, McDonald’s is also known for helping thousands of students go to college.
Since 1985, McDonald’s has given away more than $17.9 million in scholarship money to almost 13,000 Hispanic students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to go into higher education.
The RMHC/HACER scholarship was founded by McDonald’s franchisee Richard Castro, who was committed to supporting the academic achievements of Hispanic students. He set up the program to encourage students to finish high school and go on to college.
The program currently offers four $100,000 national scholarships each year, plus other local scholarships. The national scholarships are equivalent to $25,000 a year over four years, as long as the recipient stays in college. Local scholarships start at $1,000.
Scholarships are awarded based on a number of criteria including academic achievement, financial need, community involvement, and personal qualities. To apply, you must be a high school senior under the age of 21 and be eligible to enroll in a two- or four-year college. You must also be a legal US resident.
You can get the application from www.meencanta.com [1]. The deadline for the 2008-2009 program has already passed. Applications for 2009-2010 will be available in the Fall.
In addition to offering free college money, McDonald’s works with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) to organize a series of free bilingual workshops for students and families who have questions and concerns about college. The workshops are led by college representatives, Hispanic community leaders and HSF staff. If you’re thinking about going to go to college, the workshops can help you make up your mind. You can find your nearest one at www.meencanta.com/hacer/get_ready_for_college.html [2].