Rockwood School District: Eureka High's Morgan Brown Wins Taco Bell's Live Mas Scholarship

Press release from the Rockwood School District:

May 19, 2021

Eureka High senior Morgan Brown has been awarded the Taco Bell Foundation's $10,000 Live Mas scholarship. Brown submitted a two-minute video on what she is passionate about and is the company's first-ever employee from the state of Missouri to earn the scholarship.

The Taco Bell Foundation's Round Up program supports youth nationwide with scholarships and educational programming. Every Taco Bell participates in the Round Up program allowing patrons to round up their total and donate to the scholarship foundation.

"I cannot believe I won," said Brown. "I'm pretty sure it is because I had my cat, Zuko, in the background."

Brown worked at Six Flags until the COVID-19 shutdowns last spring caused her to look for a new job. 

"I wanted to buy a car and save for college," said Brown. "A friend said Taco Bell paid well, so I applied there."

Brown noticed a poster in the breakroom announcing the scholarship, and her bosses encouraged her to apply. 

"My bosses kept pushing me, asking if I had applied yet," said Brown. "Finally, I just did it. Once I finished my video, I pushed it out of my mind and didn't think about it again."

Brown's video focused on her passion for marine life and conservation. Her weekends are devoted to volunteering at the new St. Louis Aquarium, and the walls of her bedroom are plastered with orca whales.

Along with the Live Mas scholarship, Brown received a scholarship from Eckerd University in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she plans to attend in the fall.

"Lots of things were pointing me in the direction of Eckerd," said Brown. "I thought I wanted to go into theater, but my passion for marine life led me to Eckerd."

With a 4.0 grade-point average, a 31 ACT score and her essay on how she has faced struggles in her life, it was clear to Eckerd she was the kind of well-rounded applicant they were looking for.

"The new president at Eckerd has increased funds for the Diversity Leadership Scholarship," said Brown. "My essay on being an LGBTQ student and how I have participated in social activism and the struggles I have faced stood out to them."

After touring the Eckerd campus, Brown knew she was making the right decision.

"The beach is right behind my campus!" said Brown. "And it is a pet friendly campus, so Zuko can come too."

For more information on the Taco Bell scholarship click here.

Eureka High senior Morgan Brown has been awarded the Taco Bell Foundation's $10,000 Live Mas scholarship. Brown submitted a two-minute video on what she is passionate about and is the company's first-ever employee from the state of Missouri to earn the scholarship.

The Taco Bell Foundation's Round Up program supports youth nationwide with scholarships and educational programming. Every Taco Bell participates in the Round Up program allowing patrons to round up their total and donate to the scholarship foundation.

"I cannot believe I won," said Brown. "I'm pretty sure it is because I had my cat, Zuko, in the background."

Brown worked at Six Flags until the COVID-19 shutdowns last spring caused her to look for a new job. 

"I wanted to buy a car and save for college," said Brown. "A friend said Taco Bell paid well, so I applied there."

Brown noticed a poster in the breakroom announcing the scholarship, and her bosses encouraged her to apply. 

"My bosses kept pushing me, asking if I had applied yet," said Brown. "Finally, I just did it. Once I finished my video, I pushed it out of my mind and didn't think about it again."

Brown's video focused on her passion for marine life and conservation. Her weekends are devoted to volunteering at the new St. Louis Aquarium, and the walls of her bedroom are plastered with orca whales.

Along with the Live Mas scholarship, Brown received a scholarship from Eckerd University in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she plans to attend in the fall.

"Lots of things were pointing me in the direction of Eckerd," said Brown. "I thought I wanted to go into theater, but my passion for marine life led me to Eckerd."

With a 4.0 grade-point average, a 31 ACT score and her essay on how she has faced struggles in her life, it was clear to Eckerd she was the kind of well-rounded applicant they were looking for.

"The new president at Eckerd has increased funds for the Diversity Leadership Scholarship," said Brown. "My essay on being an LGBTQ student and how I have participated in social activism and the struggles I have faced stood out to them."

After touring the Eckerd campus, Brown knew she was making the right decision.

"The beach is right behind my campus!" said Brown. "And it is a pet friendly campus, so Zuko can come too."

For more information on the Taco Bell scholarship click here.

This press release was produced by the Rockwood School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.