New Jersey Chick fil A worker gets a surprise $25000 scholarship from the company CEO
When Yammani Tay showed up for work at a Chick fil A in North Bergen, New Jersey this week, she thought it would be a pretty normal shift. The plan, as she understood it, was that CEO Andrew T. Cathy was stopping by to film a behind the scenes promotional video. That alone would have been exciting enough for most employees.
But what actually happened caught her completely off guard.
Instead of simply filming a video, Cathy walked into the restaurant and handed Tay a $25,000 scholarship check, according to the Daily Voice. The moment instantly turned a routine workday into something she will likely remember for the rest of her life.
Tay, who works at the North Bergen location while studying nursing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, was selected as one of just 13 Chick fil A employees across the country to receive the award through the company’s Remarkable Futures Scholarships program.
The scholarship program has been around for decades. Chick fil A launched it back in 1973, and over the years the company has poured serious money into helping employees continue their education. This year alone, the fast food chain is investing $29 million in scholarships.
Since the program began, Chick fil A has distributed an impressive $244 million in scholarship funding to employees.
The company itself has grown just as dramatically. Founded in 1946 by a devout Southern Baptist, the restaurant chain is widely known not just for its breaded chicken sandwich but also for closing every Sunday because of its religious values. Today, Chick fil A operates more than 3,000 restaurants across 48 states along with locations in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
For Tay, the scholarship adds to an already impressive path. According to her LinkedIn profile, she graduated in the Top 10 of her class at Jose Marti STEM Academy in Union City. She joined Chick fil A in 2023 as a part time employee and steadily worked her way up, first becoming a front of house trainer and later a full time shift lead.
After the surprise announcement, the store shared a photo of Tay standing with Cathy while holding the oversized scholarship check on Instagram.
The post celebrated her work and character in a heartfelt message.
“Yamanni, your leadership, dedication and heart for others make our restaurant better every single day. We are incredibly proud of you and honored to celebrate this life-changing moment with you,” the store captioned the post.