"I want to present you with a $25,000 Chick-fil-A scholarship," said the presenter, CEO Andrew Cathy.
Noel Hwang is one of 14 "True Inspiration" scholarship recipients across North America.
He will be a first-generation college student and is the son of immigrant parents.
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During his time on the job, Hwang helped to launch a pilot, the "Leader Academy" program within his local restaurant, while also facilitating community service projects.
"Seeing this much money to support my future education, I was so thankful. I almost cried, but my defense mechanism, when I feel overwhelmed, is laughing, so I started laughing instead, and I was just so overjoyed, so thankful," Hwang said.
He will graduate high school in May and is still deciding where he will attend college in the fall.