Chick-fil-A operator Rusty Wylie (middle) awarded scholarships to (from left) Luis Gomez, Avery Fontenot and Stefany Gonzalez.[/caption]

Chick-fil-A officials have announced Katy resident Avery Fontenot as a recipient of the franchise's Leadership Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Fontenot is the 100th individual nominated by Chick-fil-A operator Rusty Wylie to obtain the scholarship.

Fontenot graduated from Taylor High School and is a freshman at Lone Star College. She intends to transfer to the University of Houston in the fall, where she plans on studying hotel and restaurant management. In addition to being an assistant manager at Chick-fil-A Mason Road, Fontenot's extracurricular activities include Best Buddies, Future Farmers of America, youth group and working as an athletic trainer.

"I love the energetic atmosphere at Chick-fil-A, the friends I have made and the opportunities for growth," she said in a press release. "I want to be an entrepreneur someday and maybe even a Chick-fil-A franchisee. This is a great place to start."

Wylie—who owns the franchise's Mason Road, Cinco Ranch and Katy Green locations—is the first Chick-fil-A operator to obtain permission from corporate to run three stores. The Mason Road location where Fontenot works is his original store.

"We have been blessed since 1995 to be located here in Katy where there is a real sense of community," he said in a press release. "As for the 100 scholarship recipients, those represent the very best of our team members."

Started in 1973, Chick-fil-A's scholarship program has provided over $35 million in monetary awards to more than 35,000 team members. The scholarships have been applied at over 3,000 institutions across the country.

"I really enjoy working for a company that is respected nationwide," Fontenot said in a statement. "I love that Chick-fil-A stands by what they believe in."