• by Teresa Buyikian , November 20, 2024

Taco Bell Foundation’s Liv Mas Scholarship, which rewards “passionate students aged 16 to 26,” celebrates its 10^th anniversary by opening applications for its largest fund to date: $14 million in available scholarships, up from $10 million last year.

The Liv Mas Scholarship program is open to both Taco Bell Team Members and customers “looking to pursue higher education to prepare for the workforce and ignite change in their communities.” Unlike traditional scholarships, this is “passion-based” and not dependent upon the applicant’s academic or athletic accomplishments.

"Empowering ambitious young people is at the heart of everything we do, supporting those who dare to dream big," said Julie Davis, Taco Bell's global chief legal officer and executive sponsor of the Taco Bell Foundation.

To enter, applicants must create a two-minute video where they “express their passion, articulate the positive impact they aspire to create in the world and describe how education will pave the path to achieve that goal.” The video should be uploaded to livemasscholarship.com, where selected winners could receive up to $25,000 in scholarship funds. Applicants are encouraged to “dream big and challenge the status quo, embodying the true essence of a cultural rebel.”

Applicants can enter from now until Jan. 8, and winners will be announced in April 2025. Awards are available in $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 amounts. Of these, the Taco Bell Foundation will allot approximately $4.5 million specifically for Taco Bell team members who have been employed at the chain for at least 30 days.

Beginning in 2014, the Live Más Scholarship has helped more 3,000 students with over $50 million in scholarships.