'Live Mas' Scholarships Benefit 100 California Students, Programs

IRVINE, CA —The Taco Bell Foundation is awarding $7 million to 725 scholarship winners and an additional $10 million in grants to local youth organizations across California, the Irvine-area company announced Tuesday. Scholarship awards range from $5,000 to $25,000 per student, they reported.

A total of 100 California students won the award (see the full list below).

The Live Mas scholarships and grants, totaling $17 million, will "educate and inspire the next generation of leaders," a spokesperson for The Taco Bell Foundation said.

In 2021, the scholarship recipients include 150 Taco Bell employees and 305 people who have won the Live Mas Scholarships in the past and applied for a renewal.

"After a tough year of remote learning, we hope these scholarships help inspire young people around the country to continue pursuing their boldest ambitions," said Jennifer Bradbury, executive director of the Taco Bell Foundation. "We are so excited to have met the commitment we set for ourselves to award $21 million in scholarships by 2021 in just six years and look forward to supporting students on their educational journeys in even more innovative ways in the future."

New and old scholarship winners will come together for a virtual conference this summer to network and develop personal and professional skills. The "Summer of Connection" will feature topics including early career success, navigating change, how to earn money and what to do with it, self-advocacy and networking.

To raise money for the scholarship fund, the Taco Bell Foundation partners with Taco Bell restaurants to host national fundraisers twice a year.

This year, fundraising has already begun in participating restaurants. Through July 1, customers will be asked to round up their order to the nearest dollar at checkout.

In June, the foundation will donate $10 million in grants to nearly 400 local youth-serving organizations across the country as part of the foundation's "Day of Giving." The foundation supports Junior Achievement programs, Boys & Girls Club of America, and other non-profit organizations.

So, who won? The Live Mas Scholarship winners were chosen from nearly 10,000 applicants.

In California, the following 100 applicants were awarded scholarships through the program:

Naomi C. Passion: Film
: Alhambra
Jonathan B. Passion: Illustration
: Aliso Viejo
Kyla K. Passion: Medicine
: Altadena
Owen F. Passion: Entrepreneurship
: Atascadero
Briana A. Passion: Medicine
: Bakersfield
Elizabeth M. Passion: Architecture
: Bakersfield
Karen A. Passion: Criminal Justice
: Bakersfield
Victoria G. Passion: Music
: Bakersfield
Nikka P. Passion: Biology
: Bakersfield
Caitlyn C. Passion: Education
: Benicia
Andre V. Passion: Sports
: Calipatria
Gabriel C. Passion: Therapist
: Camarillo
Alexandra H. Passion: Creative Arts
: Carmichael
Benjamin R. Passion: Civil Engineering
: Citrus Heights
Keiko P. Passion: Humanities/Social Science
: Citrus Heights
Jeffrey A. Passion: Education
: Compton
Nancy R. Passion: Social Work
: Compton
Vardhan A. Passion: Computer Science
: Cupertino
Jennifer T. Passion: Photography
: El Dorado Hills
Jared B. Passion: Health and Fitness
: Elk Grove
Jessica W. Passion: Performance Art
: Elk Grove
Kylah W. Passion: Marketing/Advertising
: Elk Grove
Franklin B. Passion: Sustainability
: Encino
Ashley G. Passion: Nursing
: Escondido
Bella U. Passion: Education
: Fontana
Era D. Passion: Technology
: Fremont
Christian O. Passion: Agriculture
: Fresno
Colton R. Passion: Science
: Galt
Monique V. Passion: Entrepreneurship
: Glendora
Natalie L. Passion: Education
: Goleta
Diego B. Passion: Political Science
: Granada Hills
Jessica J. Passion: Special Education
: Hayward
Ashley A. Passion: Nursing
: Hilmar
Joanna R. Passion: Community Service
: Huntington Park
Daniel R. Passion: Illustration
: Irvine
James K. Passion: Humanities/Social Science
: Irvine
Meachelle L. Passion: Medicine
: Irvine
Isaiah B. Passion: Political Science
: Jurupa Valley
Ellaney M. Passion: Community Service
: La Canada
Alden M. Passion: Creative arts
: La Crescenta
Kaylee K. Passion: Creative Arts
: La Crescenta
Shawn P. Passion: Engineering
: La Palma
Chloe R. Passion: Sustainability
: Laguna Hills
Katie K. Passion: Community Service
: Lincoln
Esteban G. Passion: Business
: Livingston
Ashley F. Passion: Technology
: Los Altos
Cara D. Passion: Electrical Engineering
: Los Angeles
Cecilia B. Passion: Education
: Los Angeles
Letxia C. Passion: Film
: Los Angeles
Miriam T. Passion: Political Science
: Los Angeles
Princess Isis L. Passion: Performance Art
: Los Angeles
Stone K. Passion: Technology
: Los Angeles
Vicente E. Passion: Electrical Engineering
: Madera
Cecilia L. Passion: Psychology/Sociology
: Manteca
Nathan M. Passion: Film
: Mather
Sharmaine O. Passion: Biology
: Menifee
Johanna C. Passion: Political Science
: Mission Hills
Melissa J. Passion: Criminal Justice
: Murrieta
Aaron G. Passion: Statistics
: Newport Beach
Buddy R. Passion: Criminal Justice
: Nipomo
Aaron Don A. Passion: Mechanical Engineering
: Orange
Crystal M. Passion: Creative arts
: Orange
Keasha F. Passion: Performance Art
: Oroville
Anthony H. Passion: Culinary Arts
: Oxnard
Isabel L. Passion: Pre-Law
: Oxnard
Maribel C. Passion: Criminal Justice
: Pacoima
Andrew L. Passion: Science
: Palo Alto
Ailun S. Passion: Creative Arts
: Palos Verdes Estates
Ashley P. Passion: Nursing
: Paso Robles
Jovana C. Passion: ASL
: Patterson
Melyza G. Passion: Nursing
: Patterson
Elani S. Passion: Fine Art
: Pleasanton
Holden D. Passion: Community Service
: Rancho Palos Verdes
Alana S. Passion: Film
: Sacramento
Chinyce C. Passion: Community Service
: Sacramento
Derrick O. Passion: Journalism
: Salinas
Breanna C. Passion: Journalism
: San Diego
Ya Binta S. Passion: Science
: San Diego
Samantha G. Passion: Science
: San Dimas
Alexander L. Passion: Nursing
: San Francisco
Annie D. Passion: Psychology/Sociology
: San Francisco
Cristopher R. Passion: Community Service
: San Jose
Davis N. Passion: Education
: San Jose
Jash G. Passion: Community Service
: San Jose
Nethra S. Passion: Medicine
: San Jose
Presley L. Passion: Health and Fitness
: San Jose
Aaron L. Passion: Architecture
: San Luis Obispo
Ruchir B. Passion: Software Engineering
: San Ramon
Alejandra M. Passion: Education
: Santa Monica
Gre Y. Passion: Dentistry
: Santee
Henry W. Passion: Community Service
: Saratoga
Evan K. Passion: Education
: South Pasadena
Colin F. Passion: Science
: Sunnyvale
Angela Z. Passion: Sustainability
: Temple
Jessica H. Passion: Entrepreneurship
: Temple
Peace L. Passion: Medicine
: Tracy
Destiny G. Passion: Psychology/Sociology
: Turlock
Brianna C. Passion: Business/Entrepreneurship
: Vacaville
Ally M. Passion: Illustration
: Walnut Creek
Chloe M. Passion: Community Service
: Yorba Linda

Congratulations to all of the Live Mas Scholarship winners across the country.