Education is a key part of success, and we focus on bringing that to students in North America through our BK Scholars Program. The BK Scholars Program is the Foundation’s flagship program, established to honor the legacy of the Burger King brand’s co-founder James W. McLamore, whose commitment to philanthropy and education made him a pillar of community service throughout his lifetime. Through the program, we award scholarships to deserving high school seniors and Burger King employees and their families to help advance their education. Because of Jim, his legacy, and the support of franchisees, the scholars program has now awarded a total of $55 million in scholarships to more than 47,000 deserving students throughout North America since 2000.
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $60,000 and are intended to offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school. Recipients are selected through an application process that takes into consideration their grade point average (GPA), work experience, extracurricular activities, financial need and community service. The application period is from mid-October to mid-December. In 2023 alone, the Foundation awarded over $3.2 million in scholarships to nearly 4,000 students.
The application period for the 2023-2024 cycle has closed. Scholarship recipients will be notified in April 2024. Click here to view the scholarship eligibility requirements.
In 2011, the McLamore Family added a new category to the BK Scholars program to help make an even greater impact. The James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship Award was created, allowing the Foundation to grant $60,000 awards to three deserving students each year.
"The 2023 Whopper Award became a tangible opportunity for me to change generational cycles. I am the first one in my family to not only graduate high school but also to help those who do not have the same opportunities as me, making education more equitable. My journey to Stanford University has been unexpected. My goal in moving to America by myself in July 2021, at just 17 years old, was mainly to provide financial support back home to my dad, who unfortunately suffered from a stroke. I have always been passionate about school, checking all the possible boxes, but my personal circumstances have threatened my education. However, this scholarship opened doors that I thought I would never be able to achieve."
"From the moment I was surprised to hear that I was selected as a 2023 Whopper Award Recipient while enjoying the delicious food at a local Burger King in my hometown, I knew my life had changed forever! I cannot thank the Burger King Foundation enough for the support they provide as I continue my academic journey at the collegiate level. This opportunity has allowed me to thrive in my academics, activities, and community involvement during my freshman year ensuring I can share an important message from the Burger King Foundation with others around me… you RULE!"
"The 2023 Whopper Award has enabled me to attend UNC Chapel Hill for free and consider academic opportunities I had never dreamed of. This past December, I traveled to Accra, Ghana, for three weeks to conduct ethnographic research in healthcare, which would not have been possible without the Burger King Foundation. I am forever grateful for BK's philanthropy and motivated to be a success story of this program."
