The fast-food company is awarding $500,000 in scholarships to 55 students

McDonald’s USA is revealing its inaugural class of its scholarship program for Asian Americans.

$500,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 55 Asian and Pacific Islander American college students in collaboration with APIA Scholars.

The McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship aims to bridge the gap between community disparities.

“When we created the McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship program last year, we had no idea that the need for educational support would become greater as a result of the pandemic,” said Jimmy Ferguson, a Texas-based McDonald’s Owner/Operator and APIA Scholars board member.

“McDonald’s has always invested in the education of students and future leaders, so we couldn’t be happier to lend a hand and provide financial support for APIA students who are making their dreams of higher education come true.”

In this year’s class, 55% of students are Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Southeast Asian Americans.

96% of students are first-generation immigrants, 36% of students are the first in their family to go to college, and 76% of student live below the poverty line.

Applications for the scholarship are open until 14 January 2021.

A full list of this year’s scholarship recipients can be found here.

In other news, a Syracuse University professor has come under fire for referring to Coronavirus as “Wuhan Flu” and “Chinese Community Party Virus” in his course syllabus.