It all starts with a quick and easy Live Más Scholarship video application. Believe in yourself and good things are sure to come your way!
For Team Trainer Tamera Afraid of Lightening, this year not only marked receipt of her first Taco Bell Foundation Live Más $5,000 scholarship, but it led to another unexpected opportunity — an all-expenses paid trip to San Diego, CA for networking and personal growth! Bonus: It was Tamera’s first time in California.
This opportunity is open to all Live Más Scholars,
you just have to apply and engage!
Tamera is the first from Border Foods to be invited and attend Taco Bell’s “Summer of Connection” Conference for Live Más scholars, which has only been around a few years. Out of 350 attendees, Tamera was one of just 77 Taco Bell team members from around the country.
“It’s crazy that not a lot of people know about it,” Tamera says of Live Más and the conference.
“There are other opportunities out there as long as you put your foot forward.” – Tamera Afraid of Lightening, Team Trainer
HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER
According to Tamera, as a scholarship recipient, she was automatically added to the Live Más Scholar Connect app, an exclusive social network for Live Más scholars around the country. Designed to inspire career building and engage recipients with the larger Live Más community, Tamera says the app is similar to Facebook, where you can update your status and share accomplishments, and also “like” or comment on other people’s updates.
At some point, Tamera heard about “Summer of Connection” and joined a Zoom call to find out more. She says she would have never known about this cool opportunity without engaging on the app! She submitted a quick and easy application, and was selected.
“Not everybody is chosen,” Tamera shares. She’s still unsure how she got selected. She says the rumor is that as long as you’re active on the app, you’ve got a shot at it.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
The 2024 “Summer of Connection” Conference (SOC24) was hosted in July in San Diego. Attendance is growing; it went from approximately 150 attendees in 2023 to 350!
Participants enjoyed four days together with keynote speakers (Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant was there), a choice of fun activities and targeted workshops, a beach party, and a rewarding final day of service. Designed to cultivate career skills and connections, Tamera certainly made new friends!
“It gave me a lot of insight in myself.” -Tamera Afraid of Lightening, Team Trainer
Tamera says she met some great people: 18-year-olds who are starting businesses, a young woman who’s walked the red carpet and already won an Emmy. She says what she wants others to realize about this opportunity is how connection benefits everyone.
“Connections are important, especially when you come from small Midwest town like I do,” she says.
She’s grateful to the brand and to Border Foods for believing in her and providing opportunity.
MORE ABOUT TAMERA
Tamera works at our Rapid City, SD Taco Bell. She’s currently finishing up prerequisites at Oglala Lakota College and plans to start nursing classes in fall 2025. She says she’ll take a break from school in the spring to work full-time and focus on passing the entrance exam for her program.
Will she apply for the scholarship again? Absolutely! As a single mom and working student, she says she appreciates not having to worry about the cost of school and supplies. According to her, she can also be considered again for the conference again.
Sound pretty amazing? Apply for the scholarship and chase those dreams! The Live Más application period opens in November!
