Jersey City Times
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What started as a routine school day for Edward Vazquez-Hernandez turned into a life-changing moment when the BelovED Community Charter School senior was surprised with a $25,000 scholarship and a new MacBook Pro—delivered personally by Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew T. Cathy.
“I was shocked,” Vazquez-Hernandez said. “Earlier [that day] I was worrying about college net costs and being able to afford my higher education. It was surreal knowing that my effort was validated.”
The announcement was a surprise, with school leaders keeping the details under wraps for weeks. Vazquez-Hernandez and his classmates believed they were attending a special lecture on entrepreneurship until the award presentation began.
Vazquez-Hernandez, who works part-time at the Chick-fil-A location in Newport Centre Mall, was one of only 13 recipients nationwide to earn the top award, which is available to high school employees of the fast-food chain. The program offers scholarships in three amounts: $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000.
In addition to his part-time job, Vazquez-Hernandez is a leader in his school’s Student Council and National Honor Society, where he organizes fundraisers and mentors fellow students. He also competes on the indoor and outdoor track teams and maintains a high GPA while taking classes at Columbia University.
With the scholarship, Vazquez-Hernandez will attend Stevens Institute of Technology as a first-generation student to study electrical engineering. His summers spent in Mexico without reliable electricity inspired him to pursue electrical engineering, with the goal of developing affordable circuit technology for underserved communities.
He will also participate in a year-long mentorship program at Chick-fil-A’s Support Center in Atlanta, which includes paid travel opportunities.
“Edward is the kind of Team Member every Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator hopes for — hardworking, driven, and always uplifting those around him,” said Dorian Peterson, owner-operator of the Chick-fil-A location Newport Centre. “His leadership, both in our restaurant and in his community, reflects the best of Chick-fil-A. I have no doubt he will continue to make a meaningful impact as he pursues his education and future career.”
In 2025, Chick-fil-A, Inc. will award more than $27 million in scholarships to over 15,000 team members across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Since 1973, the company has granted more than $215 million in scholarships to over 122,000 employees.
Alexis is a freelance writer and marketing professional based out of Jersey City. She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in journalism and is passionate about exploring a wide range of topics,… More by Alexis McDonell
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