For high school seniors looking to fund their college education, scholarships can provide much-needed financial assistance. One excellent scholarship option is the Burger King Scholarship program. Established in 1998, this program helps employees, employees’ spouses or domestic partners, employees’ children and high school seniors in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada pursue their college educations. In this lesson, we will provide an in-depth look at the Burger King Scholarship and how to apply for it.
What is the Burger King Scholarship Program?
The Burger King Scholars program offers scholarships to help students offset the rising costs of college tuition. The program is funded by franchisees, Team Member donations, and fundraising efforts led by the BURGER KINGSM McLamore Foundation. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $50,000 and are awarded based on academic record, demonstrated leadership skills, participation in community service and extracurricular activities, and work experience. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $35 million in scholarships.
Who is Eligible for the Burger King Scholarship?
There are several different scholarship options through the Burger King Scholars program:
BURGER KING Employees Scholarship – For part-time or full-time BURGER KING employees who have worked at BURGER KING for at least 90 days in the U.S. or Canada.
BURGER KING Employee’s Spouse/Domestic Partner Scholarship – For spouses or domestic partners of part-time or full-time BURGER KING employees who have worked at BURGER KING for at least 90 days in the U.S. or Canada.
BURGER KING Employee’s Child Scholarship – For children, age 23 and younger, of part-time or full-time BURGER KING employees who have worked at BURGER KING for at least 90 days in the U.S. or Canada.
BURGER KING High School Seniors Scholarship – For current high-school seniors age 17-24 in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada with a minimum 2.5 GPA who plan to enroll full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada for the entire upcoming academic year.
Key Application Requirements
To apply for the Burger King Scholarship, students must meet certain requirements. Here are some of the key eligibility criteria to keep in mind:
- Have a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Be a current high school senior who will graduate this academic year
- Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada
- Demonstrate participation in community service or athletic programs
- Show financial need
- For employee-related scholarships, the associated BURGER KING employee must have worked at least 90 days prior to the application deadline
Application Timeline
The Burger King Scholars program has one application period per year. Here is an overview of the typical timeline:
- October 15 – Application opens
- December 15 – Application deadline
- May – Recipients are notified of their award status
- July – Scholarship funds are disbursed for the upcoming academic year
Students must submit their applications by the December deadline to be considered. It is recommended to apply early, as incomplete or late applications may not be accepted.
Application Process
Applying for the Burger King Scholarship involves completing an online application along with submitting supporting materials. Here are the key steps:
1. Gather materials – Have the following information ready to complete the application: academic transcripts, test scores, list of extracurricular activities, employment history, personal essay, letter of recommendation, FAFSA Student Aid Report.
2. Start application – Go to the BK-Scholars.com website and click on “Apply Now.” Create an account to start a new application.
3. Fill out form – Carefully complete all sections of the online application, including personal information, academic info, activities, employment, and financial aid status.
4. Write essays – There are 2 required 500-word essays on your career goals and how you exhibit the program’s values. The essays are important, so proofread carefully.
5. Submit supplements – Upload your transcript, test scores, recommendation letter, and other required documents before submitting.
6. Get confirmation – You will receive an email confirmation after submitting your complete application. Your application status can also be checked online.
7. Wait for decision – Evaluation takes 2-3 months. Recipients are notified by email and phone in May.
Tips for a Strong Application
Here are some tips to help your Burger King Scholarship application stand out:
- Start early – Begin preparing your application materials over the summer before 12th grade. Don’t wait until the deadline.
- Show financial need – Emphasize how the scholarship would benefit you and explain your family’s financial circumstances.
- Highlight leadership – Share examples of leadership roles you held in extracurriculars, sports, work or through volunteering.
- Focus essays on goals – Let your passion and career ambitions shine through in your personal statement essays.
- Get feedback – Have teachers, mentors, and parents review your essays and application before submitting them.
- Follow instructions – Carefully adhere to all word counts, formatting guidelines, and document requirements.
- Submit neatly – Make sure your application is error-free and documents are easy to read.
- Be thorough – Provide all requested info and answer all questions completely. Missing info can hurt your odds.
Scholarship Amounts
The Burger King Scholars program offers several different scholarship amounts depending on the specific award:
- $1,000 – James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarships for BURGER KING general high school seniors and employee-related applicants.
- $2,500 to $50,000 – McLamore Foundation scholarships for high-achieving student leaders demonstrating financial need. Includes the BURGER KING Employee of the Year Scholarship.
- Full tuition – Special scholarships covering full tuition at partner institutions for top students nominated by their school.
- Varies – Special scholarships funded by franchisees and other donors with amounts based on their criteria.
The number and amount of scholarships awarded each year varies based on available funding. Students can apply annually for renewal of their scholarship.
Conclusion
The Burger King Scholarship program offers a meaningful opportunity for students to fund their college ambitions. By providing an overview of eligibility, requirements, award amounts and tips for applying, this article aimed to help students understand how to pursue this generous scholarship option. With some hard work and careful preparation of their application, driven students can hope to earn funding through this competitive program. The financial assistance and career development opportunities made possible by the Burger King Scholarship make it a worthwhile endeavor for motivated high school seniors.
