By B.C. Manion
David Schultz, a graduate of the class of 2011 at Steinbrenner High, is one of 25 students across the country who has received a 2013 S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award.
The awards go to Chick-fil-A employees and are selected from the restaurant’s 1,600 previous Leadership Scholarship winners.
Both distinctions carry a $1,000 scholarship and are awarded to employees of Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country.
Cathy and a blue-ribbon panel of Atlanta-area civic and business leaders selected the 25 recipients of the S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award. The scholarship recognizes Chick-fil-A team members who excel in academics, community service and leadership.
Cathy, 92, continues to serve as CEO of the Atlanta-based chain he founded.
Schultz was honored at a ceremony on June 7 at the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 8019 Citrus Park Town Center Drive.
Ed Douan, the owner/operator of Chick-fil-A at Westfield Citrus Park, was delighted by Schultz’s recognition.
“It’s definitely a thrill to have David selected,” said Douan, who wrote a letter on Schultz’s behalf for the first scholarship the young man won last year.
In that June 6, 2012 letter, Duoan wrote, “David’s reliability and integrity make him an integral part of our operations. His mature personality and servant attitude has enabled him to become a role model for new hires.”
He also characterizes Schultz as someone who can be counted on to work with little direction and execute his tasks with efficiency and quality.
Schultz, who is studying finance at the University of Florida, was pleased by the honor.
“(Being) one in 25 in the country is pretty great recognition,” Schultz said. “I’m extremely excited and feel blessed.”
Schultz said he is interested in pursuing a master’s degree and would like to work in a career that involves institutional banking and corporate finance.
Schultz has worked at the Westfield Citrus Park location since 2008.
At Steinbrenner, he was active in the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Alpha Tau Omega, basketball, football and golf. He also devoted time to volunteer at a soup kitchen, as well as community elementary and middle schools.
Since its inception, the S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award has awarded $425,000 in funds to previous Leadership Scholarship recipients. Founded in 1973, Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Scholarship program has awarded more than $30 million in $1,000 scholarships.
