Taco Bell Crew Member Wins $10,000 Scholarship, Highlights Career Support

On December 18, 2025 Taco Bell Foundation representatives presented a $10,000 Live Más Scholarship to Elisabeth Dona, a crew member at the Fulton New York Taco Bell. The scholarship is part of a foundation program that each year attracts thousands of applications from Team Members seeking financial support for education and training.

The Live Más Scholarship is intended to help restaurant employees pursue college degrees, vocational training, and other learning goals that can open pathways to higher paying jobs and expanded responsibilities. Winners are selected from a large applicant pool through the foundation's review process, which evaluates applicants against the program criteria. The scholarship amount awarded to Dona is among the larger individual awards the program grants and is aimed at offsetting tuition and related education expenses.

Local coverage of the presentation included reaction from coworkers and community members and noted the tangible difference a dedicated education award can make for a frontline worker balancing shifts and school or training. For employees, such awards serve both a practical and symbolic function. The financial support reduces out of pocket costs for schooling, while the public recognition signals employer investment in employee development. That combination can influence morale, retention and the perceived career trajectories available within the restaurant industry.

For Taco Bell and its franchise partners, the foundation scholarship program operates as an employee facing benefit that complements on the job training and internal promotion opportunities. By promoting educational access, the company and its foundation aim to broaden career mobility for Team Members who want to advance beyond entry level roles.

The announcement in Fulton is a reminder for workers in the restaurant sector that programs offering direct education aid exist and can be significant. For employers, the presentation highlights how scholarship investments can support workforce stability and help frontline employees pursue longer term career goals.