Scholarship Recipient Highlight: Hayden French

How has being a recipient of this scholarship influenced your perspective on higher education?

Becoming a recipient of the Morrison Family Scholarship Program has helped me perceive higher education as something that’s legitimately obtainable; it was the first scholarship I received after making the decision to go back to school for a bachelors. Even though I made sure to maintain a high GPA while obtaining my associate degree, I was unsure if doing so would mean enough to receive recognition through the scholarships I need to continue my education. Being chosen for the scholarship boosted my confidence and acted as my personal confirmation that the dedication I’ve put into my career and education has been worth it.

Were there any challenges you faced as a first- generation scholar and how did the scholarship support you in overcoming them?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced while pursuing my degree is similar to that of many others, but particularly first-generation students: securing the necessary funding. Being awarded the Morrison Family Scholarship has helped give me peace of mind about the financial aspects of higher education.

In what ways do you hope to pay forward the opportunities you’ve received through this scholarship to future generations or within your community?

I chose to pursue higher education primarily because of my passion for learning, developing, and sharing information in both my career field and field of study. I view knowledge as a valuable asset to everyone, and the scholarship enables me to continue gaining and sharing it with others.

How has the scholarship influenced your career aspirations and what impact do you hope to make in our chosen field?

By helping me pursue higher education, the scholarship has influenced me to aim higher in my career field and my field of study simultaneously; through my passion for learning, I hope to make impact by spreading knowledge in both fields.

How do you navigate the balance between academic commitments and personal responsibilities and how has the scholarship played a role in this?

I tend to internally separate my commitments into three categories: career, school, and personal life. If my level of stress is too high in all three categories, I know I’ve spread myself too thin and something has to change. I had to make the unfortunate decision to take time off of school for this reason between applying for and receiving the Morrison Family Scholarship for the semester I would not be attending. I was disappointed, thinking I would have to decline the offer, but Wingstop Charities went above and beyond to work with my school to ensure that I would still receive the award when I begin attending again the following semester.

Looking ahead, what advice would you give to Wingstop Team members that are future 1st generation scholars who aspire to follow a similar path?

I think it’s incredibly important to remember not everyone follows the same cookie-cutter timeline in life; it’s okay to take time to discover yourself or work on your career before pursing a degree. Sometimes you have to take a slightly different path than others because of circumstances outside of your control, but that’s okay. Pursuing a degree can be daunting, particularly as an unconventional first-generation student with limited assistance from family and friends, but there are resources out there. Utilize the resources your school provides and apply for every scholarship and grant you can, including the ones not affiliated with your school like the Morrison Family Scholarship.

Is there any one you would like to recognize and thank for their support during your post secondary educational journey and how did their guidance shape your path? (parents, grand parents, mentors, etc.)

First, I would love to thank my mom for helping keep me motivated during my journey through higher education by consistently reminding me that I can do anything I put my mind to. Additionally, while they’re not directly involved in my educational journey, I’ve worked for Wingstop brand partners Rhonda and Tom Gerrity for almost a decade now and it would be remiss of me to not recognize them. Not only are they amazing and dedicated business owners, they’re also genuinely good people; I’m not sure where I would be or if I would be able to pursue higher education at all if not for their ability to recognize my potential for growth all those years

(Optional) Feel free to share additional comments about your experience or a fun fact.

I started working for Wingstop as a team member at seventeen; now a training manager almost nine years later, it’s been an incredible experience to watch the organization grow and change alongside myself.