SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- There was more than burgers and fries on the menu at a Sioux Falls McDonald's Friday.
There was also a reason to cheer.
Three McDonald's employees, wearing caps and gowns, celebrated their college graduation with a ceremony at the restaurant.
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"Today I'm just so grateful that I got the opportunity to be able to go to college and get a degree," McDonald's Area Supervisor Godliva Niyubuntu said.
Niyubuntu is a supervisor of four McDonald's locations.
She started 11 years ago and worked her way up the ladder.
"At the time, I just needed a job after high school and I said, 'Well, let me give McDonald's a shot. It might not be something I do long term, but let me try it out,'" Niyubuntu said.
Now Niyubuntu can add college graduate to her resume after taking part in a tuition assistance program for McDonald's employees.
Hart2Hart, the franchise organization for 15 McDonald's locations, Archways to Opportunity, and Colorado Technical College partnered to provide the financial help.
"We know that if we make our people stronger, it makes the business and the community stronger. It's a big principal of our organization to support people whether that's supporting them through growing with us or continuing their education so they can go and do a different field of work, it's just our mission to make our people the best they can be," Hart2Hart Owner/Operator Jordan Hartshorn said.
The assistance covered all of Niyubuntu's tuition cost.
She now has an associate degree in accounting from TCU.
"Right now, I want to continue what I'm doing, but eventually in the future, I want this degree to be more than what I am now, so that's one of the reasons I decided to go back to school," Niyubuntu said.
Hartshorn says nearly 50 employees have taken part in the tuition program over the past seven years. ...read more read less
