PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A local student is one of 500 KFC restaurant employees throughout the country who will receive scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year.
Macy Pyres, a 2017 graduate of Presque Isle High School, will receive $2,000 for the coming academic year.
KFC franchisees, including Presque Isle’s own Milton and Derik Smith, and the KFC Corporation arrange for the scholarships. Pyres was chosen through a competitive selection process as a winner via the REACH Educational Grant Program.
The REACH Program helps KFC U.S. restaurant employees pursue their educational dreams at four-year and two-year colleges, including trade/vocational and graduate schools.
“Macy is the kind of young adult you love to see come through the door, looking for a job,” stated local franchisee Derik Smith. “She’s smart, motivated, and not afraid of hard work.”
Pyres was on the high honor roll, a member of the National Honor Society and served as a manager for the varsity girls basketball team for the past two years. She has been working for KFC for two years, and is also employed at Presque Isle Pharmacy.
She was involved in many clubs and sports, such as Youth in Government, Outdoor Club, basketball, Science Olympiad and Dirigo Girls State. She will attend the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., in the fall to study biochemistry and molecular biology.
The program takes inspiration from Colonel Harland Sanders and his passion for helping people be their best selves through education. “The KFC Family has a long and rich history of philanthropy,” said Krista Snider, managing director of the Foundation. “We’re proud to be able to honor the Colonel’s legacy and help this inspiring, hard-working group of students.”
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, Inc. is an independent 501(c)3 charity. The Foundation has awarded $16 million in scholarships and educational grants to 3,700 students since 2006.
