Let the search begin! Today, Taco Bell® Foundation for Teens™ and its
partner Get Schooled, together with celebrity ambassador and YouTube
Sensation Tyler Oakley, kick off their first-ever “Graduate for Más™”
Teen Scholar contest and are looking for one special high school student
to fill the coveted position in 2015. To apply to be the next Teen
Scholar, students are invited to make their promise to graduate and then
submit a video entry at GraduateforMas.com
explaining who they are, why they are a fit, and how they could help
inspire their peers to graduate. Entries will be judged based on
onscreen personality, ability to create content and engage with others,
education and work ethic, and a passion to Live Más.
Taco Bell(R) Foundation for Teens(TM) and YouTube Star Tyler Oakley Search for Next Student to Fill Coveted Teen Scholar Role (Photo: Business Wire)
The student who is crowned as the new Teen Scholar will partake in a
one-of-a-kind, yearlong journey as part of the Graduate for Más program,
receiving exclusive opportunities that will help them along a future
career path, while inspiring the rest of America’s teens to achieve más.
Not only will the winner receive a $30,000 scholarship and hold the
elite title of Teen Scholar for the Foundation, but he/she will also
earn the opportunity to participate in a Taco Bell television ad, will
be featured on in-restaurant Point of Purchase materials, and will have
the chance to collaborate with the Foundation’s celebrity partners
throughout the year.
“The Taco Bell Foundation for Teens inspires and enables future leaders
in a way that’s fun and rewarding, and we will select an exceptional
teen to be the 2015 Scholar. We are so excited for this individual to
have access to exclusive career-development opportunities, a scholarship
grant and a voice in our yearlong activations, so that they in turn can
help us inspire other teens to pursue their dreams,” said Regina Borda,
Managing Director of the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens. “We are proud
to partner with Tyler Oakley for this contest, since he is the perfect
example of someone who turned their dreams into reality through hard
work and commitment, and now is a voice to millions on YouTube. We are
looking forward to receiving many great applications, and I already know
that choosing from all of the amazing candidates will be hard!”
“Being involved in the search to find the next Teen Scholar is a big
deal for me. I’m excited to be part of an organization that is providing
life-changing opportunities and the right resources to teens,” said
YouTube personality Tyler Oakley. “Most of my viewers are teens, and
they are passionate about so many different causes. The next Teen
Scholar will help spread the inspiration to their peers to change the
world!”
The Teen Scholar program was established last year as a pilot program
and included teens with whom the Foundation had existing relationships,
including a Taco Bell restaurant employee. This year, the program is
open to students across the entire United States and will provide even
more access and greater opportunities.
The Teen Scholar Contest runs from Wednesday, September 3 through
Wednesday, September 17, and is hosted at GraduateforMas.com,
where the Foundation and Get Schooled provide digital tools, support and
an online community for students to stay on track. The winner will be
announced in late September. For more information on the Taco Bell®
Foundation for Teens™, visit tacobellforteens.org.
For information on the Graduate for Más™ program and the Teen Scholar
Video Contest Official Rules, visit GraduateforMas.com.
About Taco Bell® Foundation for Teens™
Taco Bell Foundation Inc., also known as Taco Bell Foundation for Teens™,
is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation committed to
inspiring and enabling America’s teens to graduate from high school and
achieve más through its programs, partnerships, and direct financial
assistance. Since 1992, the Foundation has served over 2 million
teens in 6,000 communities across the country where Taco Bell
restaurants have a presence. Through the support of our customers,
franchisees, employees and vendor-partners over the last 20 years, the
Foundation has awarded more than $45 million in grants and scholarships
focused on education and career readiness. For more information on the
Foundation and its commitment to teens – Taco Bell team members, friends
and future leaders – visit tacobellforteens.org,
and find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TacoBell4Teens.
About Get Schooled
Get Schooled is a non-profit organization that directly engages and
motivates students to graduate from high school and succeed in college.
Get Schooled is the premiere education brand for young people – linking
students with high quality, cutting edge resources and tools they need
to succeed. Get Schooled has developed a track record of success because
it engages with young Americans using the media, technology and popular
culture that is an integral part of their lives. Get Schooled's work is
boosted by partners like Viacom and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In its first two years, Get Schooled has engaged more than 2.5 million
young Americans and has built a network of more than 325 middle and high
schools.
About Taco Bell Corp.
Taco
Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE:YUM), is the
nation's leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. Taco Bell
serves made to order and customizable tacos, burritos, and specialties
such as the exclusive Doritos® Locos Tacos, gourmet- inspired Cantina
Power Menu and lower calorie Fresco
Menu. The company encourages customers to “Live Más,” both through
its food and in ways such as its Feed
The Beat® music program and its not-for-profit organization, the
Taco Bell Foundation
for Teens™. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise organizations
have nearly 6,000 restaurants across the United States that proudly
serve more than 36 million customers every week.
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