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SCRANTON, PA (November 14, 2022) – Then: Mueller family and Lackawanna College announced a unique partnership. Now: McDonald’s employees receive free tuition; other businesses announce scholarship programs.

A year after announcing a unique scholarship program, more than two dozen McDonald’s employees attend Lackawanna College free.

The opportunity has led to an increase in applicants for the restaurants owned by the Mueller family and has spurred other local businesses to seek scholarship opportunities for their employees through the college.

“It’s just been incredible to have the opportunity,” said Taylor Noldy, people experience lead for the Mueller McDonald’s restaurants. “We’re really excited to be able to provide this for our employees. We’re excited to keep going with it.”

Since the program was announced a year ago, applications to the Mueller-owned restaurants went from an average of 389 to 704 a month, Noldy said.

The Mueller family operates McDonald’s restaurants in Carbondale, Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Archbald’s Eynon section, Gibson, Hallstead, Honesdale, Montrose, Mountain Top, Old Forge, Scranton, Shavertown, Tunkhannock, Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming. The franchise also has one location in Allentown and another in Bethlehem.

Employees of the family’s 19 restaurants who work at least 16 hours a week can obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree free. Students can pursue any field of study after 90 days of employment.

Lackawanna College has 20 new business partnerships, with McDonald’s being the largest, said President Jill Murray, Ph.D. Each partnership includes different criteria, with the employer compensating the college. Allied Services Integrated Health System and DePietro’s Pharmacy also announced scholarship opportunities in the last year.

“If a student needs a job or is looking for work, we review our partner list with them and encourage them to apply with these businesses,” Murray said. “It’s working both for Lackawanna and for our partner businesses.”

Bobbi Jo Canfield is the people department manager and assistant manager at the McDonald’s in Tunkhannock. She’s also a full-time student at Lackawanna, studying human services.

Canfield, who has worked at McDonald’s for 11 years, always wanted to return to school. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“It’s amazing. I’m so privileged,” said Canfield, who hopes to become a drug and alcohol counselor. “The Muellers are awesome to work for. It’s like family.”

Read the original article from the Times-Tribune by Sarah Hofius Hall here.