This year's scholarship allocation of $1.9 million marks the chain's highest single-year increase — up 35 percent from last year's $1.4 million in support of Chick-fil-A restaurant team members seeking higher education.
Harrell received the $1,000 scholarship from Chick-fil-A franchised operator Mark Hodgson at the freestanding Chick-fil-A restaurant on Keith Street.
Harrell is the 14th team member from that location to receive the honor.
She is studying human development and business at Lee University.
Encouraging team members to seek higher learning has been a hallmark of the Chick-fil-A story since founder Truett Cathy wrote a personal check more than 54 years ago to support the college dream of an employee at his original Dwarf House diner in Atlanta. Chick-Fil-A's Leadership Scholarship program was formalized in 1973, just seven years after Cathy opened his first Chick-fil-A chain restaurant and last year celebrated its 25,000 recipient milestone.
“Tami extends Truett Cathy's decades-long legacy as a business owner who values his team members and encourages the pursuit of educational goals,” Hodgson said. “She represents the 50,000 dedicated and hard-working Chick-fil-A team members across the country who every day focus on providing the best in freshly prepared food and personalized customer service. We are very proud of her.”
In addition to the Scholarships awarded, 25 of the 1,900 scholarship recipients will be selected to receive the S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award, which is a second $1,000 scholarship named for the founder.
Chick-fil-A continues its educational commitment through other initiatives, such as the WinShape foundation that provides thousands of dollars in scholarship to qualifying student enrolled in Berry College in Rome, Ga.
