Katelynn Marie Britenbaugh thought she was just stopping at Burger King in Etna, her part-time employer when she is not in school or playing travel softball, to see her coworkers and to meet her family for a short lunch on April 16.
She wasn’t aware that she was about to be presented with a $10,000 check from Carrols Restaurant Group.
Each year Carrols, one of the largest restaurant franchisees in North America, awards $4.5 million in scholarships to its employee in the United States and Canada.
Since 2012, Carrols has helped to raise more than $4.75 million to support the Burger King Foundation. The foundation helps Burger King employees and their families through non-profit educational scholarships and grants for emergency relief when needed.
Britenbaugh, who won the scholarship last year, was chosen again to receive the money to help her pay for her degree in athletic training at Waynesburg University.
Britenbaugh’s parents, Brandy and Kevin, worked with the staff at Burger King to set up a surprise celebration. The restaurant’s dining room was closed to the public – but family, friends and coworkers gathered to help surprise Katelynn.
“I was speechless [when I found out Katelynn had been chosen to receive the scholarship again],” said Brandy Britenbaugh. “[I was] overwhelmed with joy and beaming with pride when Jeff, the manager at Burger King, called to coordinate a second surprise party to award Katelynn a Burger King scholarship for 2022-23.”
Katelynn Britenbaugh was shocked when she arrived at the party and saw a dining room full of friends and family.
“Receiving the King Award from the Burger King Foundation means a lot to me,” she said. “I feel encouraged and supported by my Burger King family to achieve my higher education goals.”
Katelynn Britenbaugh will be back working at Burger King this summer after the spring semester ends and her schedule opens up following the end of her season playing for the Pittsburgh Lady Roadrunners 18U Gold Team, a travel softball team.
