Unlocking Your Potential: A Guide to the Taco Bell Foundation Live Más Scholarship

The Taco Bell Foundation's Live Más Scholarship isn't your typical academic award. It's designed to fuel the passions of doers, dreamers, and cultural rebels who embody the spirit of "Live Más." This means embracing an unconventional path, defying norms, and turning curiosity into bold action that uplifts others while staying true to yourself. The Live Más Scholarship seeks to support young people who demonstrate a range of passions and goals, reviewers may also consider other factors in the selection process. If you're between the ages of 16 and 26, pursuing higher education or preparing for the workforce, and using your passion to make a positive change, this scholarship could be your gateway to joining a community of over 3,000 like-minded individuals.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

To be eligible for the Live Más Scholarship, applicants must meet certain criteria:

Age: Applicants must be between 16 and 26 years old (New Applicants only).
Enrollment: Applicant must be currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary educational program located in the United States or D.C. On track to apply for (pending receipt of a high school diploma or G.E.D.
Passion: The scholarship is for students who are passionate about creating a better future and making a positive impact on their community.

The application process involves submitting either a video or an essay that showcases your passion and how you embody the Live Más spirit. Here's a breakdown:

Video Submission: Create an original video, no more than 2 minutes (minimum of 30 seconds) in length and no larger than 500 MB, that tells the story of your real, driving passion. It could be a short film, a simple testimonial, or an animation. Videos must be in English.
Essay Submission: If you choose to submit an essay, it must be between 250 and 500 words. You may include one photo that represents your passion. For new applicants, your essay should address:

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1. Your passion and how you are pursuing it.
2. The impact you hope to make.
3. How you embody the spirit of Live Más in your everyday life.

Apply online at TacoBellFoundation.org during the application window.

What Makes the Live Más Scholarship Unique?

Unlike traditional scholarships that heavily weigh GPA and academic achievements, the Live Más Scholarship focuses on your passion, your drive, and your commitment to making a difference. It's about recognizing and supporting individuals who are already actively pursuing their dreams and using their talents to create positive change in the world. Your passion doesn’t stop at one chapter, and neither does our support.

Siena, for example, found her passion for firefighting and committed herself to learning everything she could about the field. When she joined her local Fire Explorer program, she was the only girl-but rather than be discouraged, she saw it as an opportunity to lead by example and show other young women that firefighting is a path they can pursue too. In recognition of her determination, leadership, and drive to make a difference, the Taco Bell Foundation awarded Siena a $25,000 Live Más Scholarship.

Uriel is a Taco Bell Team Member and 2025 Live Más Scholarship recipient with big dreams and a passion for helping others. Inspired by a powerful moment in his life, he plans to study biomedical engineering to make a difference in the world of prosthetics.

Key Evaluation Criteria

New Applicants are evaluated holistically by trained reviewers, focusing on:

Read also: Unlocking Scholarship Potential

Your passion and pursuit of it
The impact you aim to make
How you embody the spirit of Live Más
Financial need.

As the Live Más Scholarship Program seeks to support young people who demonstrate a range of passions and goals, reviewers may also consider other factors in the selection process.

Renewal Opportunities for Continued Support

The Taco Bell Foundation believes in supporting its scholars throughout their educational journey. Scholarships may be renewed up to three (3) times following the initial award, until you complete your post‑secondary education. Becoming a Live Más Scholar means joining a community of 3,000+ young people chasing their passions.

Renewal Application Focus

As a returning Scholar, you’ve already proven what it means to Live Más - to chase your passion, create change, and bring your boldest dreams to life. Renewal Applicants are evaluated holistically by trained reviewers, focusing on:

How your passion has grown or evolved since receiving your most recent Live Más Scholarship.
The change you’ve made or hope to make with your passion or career path.
How your education has supported your goals.
How you continue to embody the spirit of Live Más in your everyday life.

As the Live Más Scholarship Program seeks to support young people who demonstrate a range of passions and goals, reviewers may also consider other factors in the selection process.

To be eligible for renewal, prior awards must be used or substantially depleted (approximately 75% or more) by the end of the selection period. You can receive up to four total Live Más Scholarships (initial + renewals).

Renewal applicants: Your response should address: (1) how your passion has grown or evolved since receiving your most recent Live Más Scholarship, (2) the change you’ve made or hope to make with your passion or career path, (3) how your education has supported your goals, and (4) how you continue to embody the spirit of Live Más in your everyday life.

Important Application Guidelines

Original Work: Your submission must be your original work, created without the use of generative artificial intelligence tools.
Content Restrictions: Do not include obscenity, hate speech, or illegal/inappropriate content.
Permissions: Do not include other people, logos, or copyrighted music/content without permission. You may not include any derogatory language of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group, or anything of an inappropriate or illegal nature. You may not include other logos, brands or products owned by others in your video without permission.
Music: You may not use music that is copyrighted and owned by a third party without permission. All music must be used with permission, be your original work or in the public domain.
Deadline: Be sure to submit your application before the deadline, as late submissions are not accepted. In order to be fair to all applicants, we do not accept applications submitted after the application window closes.
Edits: You will not be able to edit your submission after submitting your application. I completed an application, but I want to make changes to my submission. No, you will not be able to edit your submission after submitting your application.
Joint Submissions: Joint videos are not allowed. My friend and I want to create a joint video-can we apply together? No.

Scholarship Funds and Usage

Live Más Scholarship funds are to be used for qualified education expenses. The funds from the Live Más Scholarship are to be used for qualified education expenses. Scholarship funds are available beginning in Fall 2026 and may be applied to the 2026 - 2027 academic year and beyond while you remain eligible. Funds are paid on your behalf to your accredited institution after you complete required verification steps with the scholarship management provider (Kaleidoscope). In some cases, funds may be paid directly to the recipient upon approval. You may defer the use of the funds for up to one year.

If you transfer schools, that’s okay, as long as your new school or program remains accredited and eligible.

Additional Information

FAFSA/Tax Documents: You do not need to upload FAFSA or tax documents with your application.
Employees: The Live Más Scholarship is available for both Taco Bell restaurant employees and non-employees. An employee in good standing of Taco Bell of America, LLC, Taco Bell Corp.
Technical Difficulties: If you're having technical difficulties with the application, seek assistance through the appropriate channels.
Already in College: Yes, as long as you are within the age range of 16 to 26 (New Applicants only) and meet the eligibility guidelines outlined in the Terms and Conditions, you may apply. If selected, you may use the funds at your current accredited program. I’m already enrolled in college. Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility guidelines outlined in the Terms and Conditions, you may apply. If selected, you may use the scholarship funds for qualified education expenses at your current accredited program.

Embracing the Live Más Spirit

The Live Más Scholarship is more than just financial assistance; it's an investment in your potential to make a real difference. By understanding the application requirements and showcasing your passion, you can increase your chances of becoming a Live Más Scholar and joining a community of individuals who are shaping a brighter future.

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