Hampton Roads native strikes gold with McDonald’s scholarship

By HRM Staff

Messenger media publisher Angela Jones speaks with Chesapeake, Virginia native and Howard University senior Ayana Sallee. who received the McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship. Jennifer Smith, the owner of 10 McDonald’s restaurants in Hampton Roads, VA, joins the conversation.

Howard University student Ayana Sallee of Chesapeake, VA was recently the recipient of the McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship. This scholarship was created in 2020 by McDonald’s to provide support to HBCU students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnering with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, along with the Shine app which provides mental health support to students, McDonald’s has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to 35 HBCU students.

“I was very excited! I could not contain my excitement.” Ayana said when she first saw the email announcing that she was one of the scholarship recipients. “When I clicked on it, and I saw how much I was like that’s impossible.” When asked how much it was Ayana stated, “enough that every person who sees this scholarship should apply!” 

“We see you, we appreciate you, and we want to be a part of you rising up in our community” these were the words of Jennifer Smith, a McDonald’s owner and operator. Her family owns 10 McDonalds restaurants in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Ayana said the scholarship has helped her not have to worry about how she is going to pay for school during her senior year. It has also helped her apply to graduate school, which she plans to attend after she graduates from Howard. 

Ayana is majoring in Political Science with a minor in English. She wants to study either Public Administration or Social Work in graduate school. She has plans of starting a nonprofit that would “help to uplift black youth and rid our society of generational poverty,” Ayana said.

McDonald’s understands that the COVID-19 Pandemic has wreaked havoc on the lives of college students. From having to leave their schools when the pandemic first started, to online classes, and financial strains, it has been a difficult journey. A poll conducted by McDonald’s on the percentage of students struggling with anxiety and depression found that three in four students were affected. The same study found that 72 percent of respondents wished they had a mental health professional to speak with about their anxiety and depression. Additionally, 46 percent shared that finding someone to speak with was too difficult for them. It can be burdensome to speak about mental health struggles with a stranger, especially as a young adult.

McDonald’s is working to bridge the gap in those statistics. In addition to receiving scholarship funds, the winners of the Black and Positively Golden Scholarship also get a lifetime membership to the minority-owned Shine app. Not only are they able to use the app, but they can also refer a friend. 

McDonald’s wants to help future Black leaders succeed, and this scholarship is a step in that direction. The Black and Positively Golden Scholarship also provides students with supplies to assist them in their studies such as a tablet, backpack, and more. 

Oftentimes, access to quality healthcare can be difficult for minority students because of financial constraints. That is why Shine is working to make mental health support accessible to all students. In addition to the scholarship, McDonald’s and Shine have also hosted events such as the virtual roundtable on November 18, 2021, for students to talk about mental health and the impact that it has had on the Black community. This event featured cultural psychologist Dr. Jessica Clemons.

Since the beginning of the program, McDonald’s, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to HBCU students. This is only one of the many efforts the company has launched to provide financial support along with healing and wellness to those in the Black and Brown community. Students like Ayana will be able to make great strides in their community because of the company’s efforts.