Hollywood High Student Earns Scholarship From Olive Garden

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Hollywood High School senior Eros Lopez started busing tables Olive Garden last year to help save up for college. Now, his employer is giving a boost to his educational pursuits with a $3,000 scholarship from the restaurant's parent company.

Darden Restaurants recently launched the Next Course Scholarship program, which this year granted 97 of its employees a $3,000 scholarship, according to a news release.

That includes Lopez, who began working at Olive Garden in Burbank last year as a busser to help fund his college education. His father, Fernando Lopez, has been working for the restaurant chain for over 20 years and currently works as a to-go specialist, according to the release.

“The Next Course Scholarship announcement was absolute perfect timing,” Fernando Lopez said. “Eros has been saving up for a while and this is just the support he needs as he approaches his freshman year.”

The younger Lopez plans on beginning his studies at East Los Angeles College this summer to pursue a degree in health care and minor music, his passion.