South Forsyth High School Graduate Honored with Award

Cumming resident McKenzie Reeves has been selected by S. Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A Founder and Chief Executive Officer, to receive this year's S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award. Reeves was chosen from more than 1,500 candidates.

“It has long been my goal to encourage youth such as McKenzie to strive for excellence and to lead by example. She truly exemplifies the work ethic, dedication and customer service that we believe sets the high standard for our more than 50,000 restaurant team members across the country," said Cathy in a news release.

Reeves, who is a 2010 graduate of South Forsyth High School, has worked for the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 430 Peachtree Parkway for nearly three years. Her father, Gene Reeves franchise operator of the Avenue Forsyth location, presented the award to his daughter.

“McKenzie is an exceptional team member with strong leadership skills, great customer service and a winning attitude,” said Gene Reeves. “It’s a pleasure to reward those efforts with this prestigious scholarship and to recognize her as a valuable asset not only to our restaurant, but also to our community.” 

According to a company statement, started in 1997, the S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award each year singles out 25 restaurant team members from among the recipients of the Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship the previous year, which amounted to more than 1,500 in 2010, to receive a second $1,000 scholarship.

Cathy, along with a blue-ribbon panel of Atlanta community leaders, selected Reeves for the chain’s top scholarship based on her personal excellence in academics, community service and leadership.    

“We’re thrilled to be able to invest in the future of our team members by helping them continue their education,” said Cathy, who celebrated 90 this year.

Since its creation to celebrate Chick-fil-A's 25 years of awarding scholarships, the S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award has awarded $375,000 in scholarship funds to previous Leadership Scholarship recipients.

Chick-fil-A’s franchised operators, many who are former Leadership Scholarship and S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award recipients, continue this legacy of excellence by mentoring the dozens of restaurant team members they employ at the more than 1,560 Chick-fil-A locations nationwide.

Reeves is studying Journalism at Berry College, Mount Berry. While at South Forsyth she was active in Beta Club, Nation Honor Society and the school newspaper. She also volunteered with many community service projects sponsored by Creekside United Methodist Church.