Chick-fil-A has awarded an employee who is also studying at Regent University with a $25,000 scholarship, making her the 100th employee to receive the honor.
On Tuesday, Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy surprised Peyton Edwards, who serves as the director of a restaurant in Virginia after starting out as a team member eight years ago.
“Today, Regent University student Peyton Edwards was awarded the $25,000 True Inspiration™ Scholarship from her employer, Chick-fil-A, making her the restaurant’s 100th scholarship recipient,” Regent University stated on social media. The post also included a video of when the surprise took place, which included a marching band, cameras, and several Chick-Fil-A employees and customers who celebrated the moment.
In addition to the scholarship, Cathy also gave Edwards a new laptop.
“Is this real or am I dreaming?” she said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
As reported by CBN News, Chick-fil-A plans to award the “True Inspiration Scholarship” to 14 of its team members nationwide this year.
Natalie Cheney, Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator at Hilltop in Virginia Beach explained that Edwards’ earned the scholarship in light of her encouraging words and her dedication to both school and work.
“Peyton is a remarkable person and a beloved member of our Chick-fil-A family. Together, our leadership team felt her qualities were the kind that our national office needed to be aware of,” Cheney said. “Peyton works with the most giving heart. That kind of person is bound to achieve success. We’re just thrilled to be a part of it.”
The staff at Regent University also recognized Edwards’ dedication. “Peyton is a natural-born leader who seeks first to serve,” Dr. Josh McMullen, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences said. “Servant leadership is a core value that unifies every area of study at Regent University. As Peyton has demonstrated so well with her strong GPA and humility, a skilled person with a people-first approach can’t help but stand out.”
Edwards, for her part, plans to complete her degree in business management and will either continue working at the Hilltop location or Chick-fil-A’s corporate office.
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.