McDonald’s signature education program provides employees an opportunity to improve English language skills and earn a college degree.
On Wednesday, July 24, local McDonald’s owner/operators Derrick and Cheryl Taylor hosted a graduation ceremony at their Rolling Meadows, IL restaurant in honor of 15 of their employees who successfully completed their studies in the English Under the Arches™ (EUA) program, as part of the McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program. During the ceremony, program participants received diplomas from representatives of the McDonald’s Corporation and the Rolling Meadows community. The Taylors also recognized one of their restaurant District Managers, Mr. Quitmon Hartzol who successfully earned his college degree from Southern New Hampshire University utilizing the McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity tuition assistance program.
EUA teaches employees the English skills they need to communicate effectively and confidently with customers and staff every day. Eighty-eight percent of English Under the Arches participants stay at their McDonald’s for at least one year after finishing the program. Seventy-eight percent of participants stay at their McDonald’s location for more than two years.
EUA offers a series of courses to meet the needs of employees with different levels of English proficiency, and allows employees to progress through the program to obtain speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Owner/Operator Derrick Taylor also serves as the President of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, an organization dedicated to empowering local residents through a variety of community and education related programs. Find out more at www.BMOAChicagoland.org.
