Biology Student Wins $25,000 Scholarship From Taco Bell

Biology Student Wins $25,000 Scholarship From Taco Bell

Will Zeller was a UToledo biology student working at Taco Bell when he landed a life-changing opportunity.

"My manager told me about the Taco Bell Foundation's Live Más scholarship program and encouraged me to apply," Zeller said. "A couple months later, my manager excitedly called me and told me that I won the $25,000 scholarship."

The Live Mas Scholarship is to help support Taco Bell employees who are pursuing higher education who demonstrate a passion for making a positive impact in their communities. More than over 13,000 employees nationwide apply each year, with only 12 awarded the $25,000 scholarship, which is renewable up to three times.

Zellar's fortune didn't stop with the scholarship.

He also received another offer from Taco Bell, this time asking if he would like to be a part of the scholarship ad campaign.

"I said yes, of course, and they flew me out to Irvine, California, for a photoshoot with four other scholars," he said. "They treated us so nicely there, and they even gave us a personal tour of the Taco Bell Headquarters."

Zeller's image is now featured across national Taco Bell locations advertising the program.

As a part of this scholarship, Zeller was awarded an all-expenses paid trip to San Diego to attend a leadership and networking conference with more than 300 other Live Mas scholars. He may apply to attend again every year.

To apply for the scholarship, Zeller was required to record a two-minute video discussing his career goals and service in the community.

He talked about his own project, Saving Senior Smiles.

"Saving Senior Smiles was a service project that I created in 2020 during the pandemic," he said. "I usually participated in several different service projects in my community each year, but almost all of them were cancelled when the pandemic hit. With dentistry in mind, I was also worried that with all the other health concerns at the time, oral health was likely not a priority, especially for the older generations."

Zeller talked with his local dentists and was able to gather over 200 donations that would go to the local senior centers. Each package was delivered safely with social distancing in mind.

"This project was a safe and effective way to serve the elderly population in my community," Zeller said. "I wanted to let them know they weren't being forgotten about during the pandemic."

Now a senior, Zeller chose UToledo for the unique direct-admit dental program partnership with Case Western Reserve University. This year, he started his first his first year at Case Western's School of Dental Medicine, which he can more comfortably attend with the scholarship supporting him.

Also supporting him is Dr. Deborah Hendricks, director of the Pre-Health Advising Center, who called Zeller a highly motivated and hardworking student.

"His smile brightens the room and matches his warm and inviting personality," Hendricks said. "It has been a joy to watch him grow and move closer to his goal of becoming a dentist these past three years. I am proud of his accomplishments and am confident he will carry that same smile and inviting demeanor into his future dental practice."

Zeller said he is grateful for what Taco Bell has done for him.

"The Live Más scholarship program is more than just the money," he said. "Receiving this scholarship was truly life-changing, and it's going to help me out immensely in paying for dental school."