Celebrations surround a young woman as she holds up a large check for $25,000.

Celebrations erupt around sophomore nursing major Yamanni Tay, as she accepts a scholarship for $25,000 from Chick-fil-A. (Photo: Chick-fil-A)

By Kenna Caprio

As party poppers exploded and confetti fluttered through the air, Yamanni Tay, a sophomore nursing major at the Metropolitan Campus, stood in a daze.

She was trying to absorb the celebration itself and the momentous news that accompanied it — Tay had just been informed by the Chick-fil-A CEO that she won a $25,000 scholarship from the company.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” says Tay, an FDU honors student and student ambassador. “A complete surprise. I’m so grateful.”

Four years ago, Tay started working part-time at the North Bergen Chick-fil-A. She works in the front of the house as a shift leader. “Any team member can apply for the Remarkable Futures Scholarship program. It’s available to employees nationwide in amounts of $1,000, $2,500 and $25,000. Last year, I applied and won a $2,500 scholarship. This year my boss and team convinced me to try for the $25,000. When I didn’t hear anything back, I assumed that I hadn’t gotten it. But they knew and kept it a secret!”

A man holds a large check for $25,000 and presents it to a young woman.

The surprise was set up under the guise that the company’s CEO was coming to the restaurant that day to film a new commercial. Instead, Tay received her giant check and a MacBook in front of her family and team. She is one of 13 employees across the country who received the $25,000 scholarship this year.

“My parents feel very proud. They’re just as honored as I am. A win for me is a win for them.”

Tay plans to apply some of the scholarship funds to her undergraduate tuition and hopefully use the remainder for graduate school. She wants to apply to FDU’s Nursing MSN Advanced Practice/Nurse Practitioner program, with a concentration in family health.

“My father has type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition. I grew up watching him take his medications, watching his blood glucose levels and witnessing how much attention and care he needed. More recently, my mom has been fighting an autoimmune disease, and I’ve taken on a caregiver role at home. I’ve always been drawn to the sciences, and I fell in love with the nursing program at FDU.”

The scholarship also comes with other opportunities, including exposure to the corporate business world. “I’ll be able to visit company headquarters in Georgia twice a year for a mentorship program, all expenses paid,” Tay says.

“FDU, Chick-fil-A and my family background and values have all formed the person I am today. I just feel so grateful.”

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FDU Student Receives the Surprise and Scholarship of a Lifetime from Chick-fil-A