KINGMAN – A Kingman teenager who just completed her junior year at Lee Williams High School has a nice head start on a college savings fund. Franchise-owning, sister-brother business partners Krystal Burge and Mark Peterson presented Amelia Brackett with a $5,000 scholarship award from the Taco Bell foundation.
“The Taco Bell Foundation raises about $20 million a year all across the country,” Peterson said. He said about $8 million of that is funding 650 scholarship recipients this year.
Burge said they staged the May 26 check presentation at the Taco Bell store on Andy Devine Avenue, where they began their business adventure long ago.
“This was our first Taco Bell 38 years ago,” Burge said. “I think the community here in Kingman is what made us successful, so we feel honored to give back.”
Brackett spoke of the two-minute video she made that helped her win the scholarship. She credited her brother with use of a cell phone to record her competition entry.
“I talked about my passion for entrepreneurship and business and then I talked about some of the different things I have done. I’m involved with FBLA, which is Future Business Leaders of America, as a state officer. That’s really helped me excel my passion for business,” Brackett said. “I also have my own egg business where I raise my chickens and sell my farm-fresh eggs to people around the community.”
Burge said Brackett has impressed with her youthful achievements.
“We are so excited to be able to appreciate you for all the energy and work that you’ve put into your high school education and how you’ve helped other people,” Burge said.
Brackett said she hopes to pursue a degree in Business Administration at the University of Pennsylvania or at Arizona State University.
- Dave Hawkins
