Helping pave the way toward higher education, the Burger King McLamoreFoundation is helping to make the educational dreams of close to 2,800 students across North America a reality. Through its Burger King Scholars program, $3 million in scholarships are being awarded to exceptional high school graduates and BK Brand employees as well as restaurant Team Members in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

This year, the program awarded three $50,000 James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship Awards, 10 $5,000 regional restaurant team member scholarships, and close to 2,800 scholarships in the amount of  $1,000 to additional students. Winners were selected from thousands of applicants looking to pursue a secondary education at a university or post-secondary vocational/technical school.

“The Burger King McLamore Foundation is invested in providing students with opportunities to further their education,” says José Cil, president of the Burger King brand and the Burger King McLamore Foundation. “For this reason, we are proud to support these outstanding students in North America with the financial support of the Burger King Scholars program.”

Amongst the 2016 recipients of the James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship Awards are Alexia Rieger, an aspiring doctor pursuing a degree in biology; Sophia Bottoms, an ambitious double major who longs to be a bilingual orthodontist; and Sunpreet Singh, a student advocate for civil rights who hopes to practice law and community advancement.

“Being a Burger King Scholar has made me realize that hard work does pay off, and I now feel so much closer to achieving my dreams,” says Sophia Bottoms, one of three Whopper Scholarship award recipients. “This amazing opportunity will allow me more freedom to focus on academic endeavors, without worrying about student loans, which has been one of my dreams.”