Murrieta Student Awarded $10,000 Scholarship To Protect and Serve

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- A fast food worker from Murrieta has received a major scholarship from her employer so that she can pursue her dream of protecting and serving her community.

Over the past couple months, the Taco Bell Foundation has awarded $4.6 million in Live Más Scholarships to 531 students and employees across the country, and one of them was Taco Bell employee Melissa Jimenez from Murrieta, California.

She received a $10,000 scholarship to pursue her passion for law enforcement and become a police officer. With her family in attendance, Jimenez was surprised with a big check at Taco Bell headquarters. There were 13,000 total applicants to this year’s scholarship, and Melissa is one of 54 employee winners to win $10,000.

Jimenez is pursuing both a degree in business administration and a degree in psychology from the University of California, Riverside and is studying to become a police officer. She's been a member of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Law Enforcement Explorer Program for four years, where she has learned how to become a law enforcement agent, participated in competitions, and networked with other young adults who share her passion.

The Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship is designed to help students pursue their passions. Unlike other scholarships, Taco Bell doesn’t choose winners based on academic merit or athletic ability. All the application requires is a 2-minute video describing what you love to do.

Both employees and any young fans of the brand ages 16-24 can apply. Scholarships range from $5,000-$25,000 per student. This year, of the 531 scholarship recipients, there were 176 “consumer” (non-Taco Bell employee) winners, 96 Taco Bell employee winners and 259 renewal winners who received rewards previously. The Taco Bell Foundation has now awarded $10.7 million total in scholarships and is committed to awarding $21 million in scholarships by 2021.