$100,000 in
Scholarships Presented to Next-Generation Leaders Committed to
Improving their Communities Across the U.S.
PLANO,
Texas, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frito-Lay®
today announced it awarded $25,000 to
four scholarship recipients, each actively leading and uplifting
their local communities and contributing to a brighter future. The
Frito-Lay Community Builder Scholarship serves to help each student
with their higher-education goals and education-related
expenses.
To select the recipients, a diverse group of employees across
the Frito-Lay organization – including frontline workers, DEI
leaders and executives – reviewed applications from 500 students in
the U.S. Each employee offered a unique perspective based on their
tenure and experience. They also demonstrated a commitment to pep+
(PepsiCo Positive), a strategic transformation focused on winning
with purpose and giving back to the communities that Frito-Lay and
parent company PepsiCo serve. Education creates multiple pathways
to meaningful opportunities and remains key in fueling PepsiCo's
long-term growth.
"As a first-generation college student, I also received a
life-changing scholarship while pursuing my degree. I know the
impact this scholarship will make on these students, who are each
pioneering change through their own passions," said judge and
Frito-Lay North America DEI HR Manager Jesus Gutierrez. "Each winner has had their own
unique path to finding their purpose through community, education
and their personal backgrounds. Based on my own lived and
professional experience, I've seen the value diverse thinking and
backgrounds can bring to leadership."
The recipients were:
- Mehar Bhasin –
Lakeville, Connecticut
Mehar is passionate about
STEM and after noticing widespread gender and race disparities in
the field, she co-founded the non-profit STEAM Bloom. The
organization has provided over 2,000 students free access to
computer science resources. She will be a sophomore at Dartmouth College in the fall.
According to Mehar, "To me, community conveys a sense of
belongingness, togetherness and collective growth. I truly enjoy
contributing to their success, uplifting them, serving them,
leading them and trying to make an impact."
- Jaelyn Hardaway –
San Antonio,
Texas
Jaelyn served on the Mayor of San Antonio's Youth Climate Council and is the
Co-Founder of the First Antonian branch of Cancer Kids First. She
recently organized and led an initiative to deliver personalized
care packages to pediatric patients locally and internationally.
Graduating from high school in 2024, Jaelyn is currently deciding
where she'll attend college next year.
According to Jaelyn, "Community signifies a sense of belonging,
support and shared identity among individuals who come together
around common interests, values, or goals, fostering connection,
collaboration and mutual aid."
- Caleb Oh –
Gambrills,
Maryland
Caleb co-founded the non-profit Kid
Changemakers while in elementary school. He's raised thousands of
dollars to help support food insecurity initiatives and at-risk
populations, such as foster children and the homeless. He also
successfully lobbied state senators to remove the tax on baby
diapers, collectively saving families millions of dollars. He will
be a Sophomore at Harvard University in
the fall.
According to Caleb, "Volunteering has affirmed my belief that all
kids can make a difference in an adult world, no matter their
circumstances."
- Ramon Perez –
New Rochelle, New
York
Ramon is currently a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine
Corps, in addition to attending college and volunteering with the
Boys & Girls Club and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. He enlisted in
2019 and now oversees 120 Marines. He first started volunteering
with his local Boys & Girls Club in high school and found he
could make a big impact on his community through mentorship. He
will be a senior at Baruch College in
the fall.
According to Ramon, "I hope to continue to impact my community and
make it a better place for everyone; I want New Rochelle to be united."
As an organization with 60,000 dedicated employees, Frito-Lay
understands the importance of preparing the next generation and is
proud to consistently invest in education and career training,
seeking to break systemic barriers and provide equitable
opportunities for all to thrive. Since 2022, Frito-Lay has provided
$600,000 in scholarship funds to
students across the country.
"It was inspiring to learn more about each of these
change-makers, plus the challenges they've overcome fueled by grit
and determination," said judge and Lay's Global marketing director
Tionna Cunningham. "As a student
with a tough path to college, this was an opportunity to pay it
forward in honor of the people and financial resources that
supported me."
About Frito-Lay North America
Frito-Lay North America is the $25 billion net sales convenient foods division
of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP). For decades, Frito-Lay's portfolio
of beloved products has brought smiles to millions of families
across the world, including Fritos® corn chips, Lay's® and Ruffles®
potato chips, Doritos® and Tostitos® tortilla chips and branded
dips, Cheetos® snacks, Stacy's® pita chips, PopCorners® air popped
snacks and SunChips® multigrain snacks. The company operates more
than 40 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, along with a vast distribution network
that services over 315,000 retail customers weekly through its
direct-store-delivery model. Through pep+ (PepsiCo
Positive), Frito-Lay is committed to creating positive change for
the planet and people. Learn more about Frito-Lay at FritoLay.com,
on X (@FritoLay), on Instagram (@FritoLay) and on Facebook
(FritoLay).
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SOURCE Frito-Lay North
America