PLANO, Texas — Frito-Lay announced Tuesday that applications are open for the Frito-Lay Community Builders Scholarship, which will award four students $25,000 each to help further their higher education goals. The application submission deadline is Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. PST.

The scholarship is a needs-based scholarship aimed at students of all backgrounds who demonstrate a commitment to uplifting and leading their communities, said the announcement.

“At Frito-Lay, we are committed to celebrating and supporting the next generation of community leaders by providing them with resources to help build a brighter future,” said Joan Cetera, vice president of corporate affairs at PepsiCo, owner of Frito-Lay. “As these young leaders take the reins, we see a path towards a future where communities are more resilient, where diversity and inclusion are celebrated, and where every individual has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

According to the statement, in addition to the application requirements, students will be asked to respond to a prompt about how they contribute to their communities and how it impacts their higher education path. The statement said students are encouraged to illustrate their demonstrated leadership skills, extracurricular activities, work experience and personal and professional goals.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must live in the United States, be high school seniors, graduates or current college undergraduates, plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study in the U.S. at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year and have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent), according to the announcement.

A diverse group of employees from Frito-Lay, including frontline workers, employee resource group leaders and executives, who each have a unique commitment to community building will make up the judging panel and review submitted applications, according to the statement. All applicants will be notified of their award status by Jan. 30, 2024.

For more information and to apply, visit bit.ly/Frito-LayScholarship.