What was supposed to be an ordinary work day turned into a surprise for a handful of employees at one city restaurant.

Taking in the warm weather Monday outside the Chick-fil-A of Elizabethton’s outdoor dining area, owner/operator Tommy Tipton surprised employees by announcing that seven staff members were awarded the Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship, worth a combined total of $17,500. Each employee was  presented with a $2,500 scholarship for their school of choice.

Tipton said the scholarship is highly competitive, but that presentees will have the opportunity to re-apply for the award as long as they continue school at any two- or four-year college, university or technical school.

“We want to provide team members with not only essential job skill and leadership development in the restaurant, but also help them receive the best education to support their career in the future,” Tipton told the Elizabethton Star.

The 2018 recipients of the scholarships include Riley Adams, Hannah Bowers, Hannah Hinshaw, Megan Young, Sarrah Eggers, Kevin Carr and Emily Hodge.

Tipton commended their work in and out of the restaurant as the students were able to celebrate the recent achievement.

Schools that will welcome the employees range from Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, and Northeast State Community College.

Tipton said that students were selected based on their leadership, academic achievement, and community involvement in Elizabethton and the surrounding region.

Requirements for the award include being recommended by a superior, being already enrolled in a postsecondary school or planning to enroll at a institution, and having a minimum grade point average of 2.5 to 4.0.

According to the Chick-fil-A main office, the restaurant chain has been able to assist employees with postsecondary learning since 1973.

For 2018, the restaurant chain awarded $14.5 million worth of scholarship money to over 5,700 team members.

Individuals can visit https://www.chick-fil-a.com/Remarkable-Futures-Scholarships to learn more about the opportunities available through Chick-fil-A.