Fayetteville Taco Bell Employee Wins $25,000 Scholarship
Dekiah Parson is definitely living mas right now! Parson, an employee of the Fayetteville Taco Bell on Ramsey St., has won a $25,000 scholarship as part of the company’s Live Mas Scholarship competition.
Parson was among 26 winners nationwide of the highest amount available in the program, which she is using toward her nursing degree at the University of North Carolina Pembroke.
“She discovered her passion for medicine after her God sister was born prematurely,” the Taco Bell Foundation said in a release. “Through her education and future career as a nurse, she hopes to spread awareness in low income communities about the risks and complications of early labor and teach preventative health methods.”
Parson has a passion now for helping to educate lower-income communities about complications surrounding premature birth and other health issues.
“Since I was a little kid, my parents have instilled a unique set of morals in me: Determination, dedication and purpose,” Parson said in her application video that you can watch below. “I did not quite understand what they meant by that until my God sister, London, was born.”
London’s premature birth led to several health issues, that Parson watched the nurses help her battle through. That led to a passion for her future career path.
“At that moment, watching the nurses with London, I knew instantly that the morals my parents instilled in me, I found my passion,” Parson continued. “That is to help people in need of medical assistance.”
Additionally, Alissia Brown, a high school senior from Linden, who works at the Taco Bell in Spring Lake, won a $5,000 scholarship in the program. She plans to attend North Carolina A&T this fall. You can watch her video below as well.
Dekiah’s Application Video
Alissia’s Application Video
Nationwide, the Taco Bell Foundation is awarding 725 winners $7 million in scholarships, that includes the winner of the Fayetteville Taco Bell scholarship this year.
“The Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship is unlike other scholarships in that the winners aren’t chosen based on academic merit or athletic ability; it’s passion-based. All the application requires is a two-minute video describing your passion. Both employees and any young fans of the brand ages 16-26 can apply. This year’s scholarships range from $5,000-$25,000 per student.”
