Chick-fil-A scholarship supports continuing education at College of Charleston

The Chick-fil-A Graduate Leadership Scholarship at the College of Charleston is one of the first scholarships created for master’s degree candidates. Launched in 2020, the scholarship has been awarded to two deserving graduate students each academic year, something that warms the hearts of Daniel Dickerson ’99 and his wife Marie Allain Dickerson ’99.

The scholarship came about when Daniel, who was serving on the then School of Professional Studies Advisory Board, discovered there were no scholarships available for graduate students. As the owner of two Chick-fil-A franchises in North Charleston, he saw firsthand how his staff struggled with continuing their education.

“Oftentimes our employees wanted to go to school, but life happened,” says Daniel. “We wanted to create opportunity for people who want to continue their education but are challenged by responsibilities, time and money. Our goal is to reduce their financial burden and keep them on track.”

Many graduate students have been in the workforce for a period of time before returning to school either full or part time. Quite often, they struggle to balance family, school and finances. For the Dickersons, it only makes sense to support them – especially since someone invested in Daniel when he was a nontraditional student at the College, and he is committed to paying it forward.

“We have always tried as a couple to serve where other people don’t go,” says Marie.

While the Dickersons are not involved with the selection of students for the Chick-fil-A Graduate Leadership Scholarship, they had a pleasant surprise when the scholarship was awarded to one of their former employees, Jackson Seith ’24 (MBA).

“It was truly a full-circle moment,” says Daniel.

The 2025–26 Recipients

The 2025-26 scholarship recipients, Carmen “Kit” Lowery ’26 (M.P.A.) and Shelby Allen ’25 (MBA ’26), appreciate the flexibility the funds gave them to gain hands-on experience while in school.

Lowery, who graduated with a Master of Public Administration, served as the M.P.A. Student Association president, which gave her insights into people and how to manage issues. Her internship with the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and work with nonprofit organizations and local government agencies as a public service graduate assistant at the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities, solidified her desire to serve in local government. Lowery also participated in the Riley Mayors Design Fellowship and, at the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration in Florida, presented her recommendations for two South Carolina cities to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Lowery’s experiences both inside and out of the classroom have primed her to work in local or state government and achieve her goal of becoming a city manager.

“Receiving the Chick-fil-A Graduate Leadership Scholarship is both an honor and a meaningful encouragement as I continue my journey in public service,” says Lowery. “Investing in emerging leaders makes a real impact on students like me and fosters the kind of leadership that strengthens our communities.”

Allen, an MBA graduate with a marketing concentration, completed her undergraduate studies in arts management with minors in studio art and project management with the Honors College in 2025. Through the Chick-fil-A Graduate Leadership Scholarship, Allen was able to accept a graduate assistantship at the College as well as a marketing internship with Paybility Financial.

“The internship pushed me to move beyond theory and actually execute,” says Allen. “Working through a branding transition meant navigating ambiguity, testing ideas and refining them with direct feedback from leadership. It gave me a clearer understanding of how a company’s personality is shaped and communicated both internally and externally.”

Allen plans to work in marketing within the arts and nonprofit sector. She is particularly interested in applying her business training in spaces that lack formal operational resources and helping them strengthen their reach and long-term sustainability. Influenced by the support she received through the scholarship, Allen aims to contribute to organizations that create pathways for others to grow.

“It is so gratifying to see what our scholarship recipients have accomplished and where they plan to go,” says Daniel. “Kit and Shelby are shining examples of what can be achieved through hard work, sacrifice and support.”

Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston’s mission is to provide students with a world-class education in the arts and sciences, business and technology, engineering and health sciences. Students have more than 150 majors and minors from which to choose — and they often choose to combine several—and complement their academic courses with overseas study, undergraduate research and internships for a truly customized education.

Nearly 12,000 students choose the college for its unique urban, mid-sized university feel. The College, home to undergraduates from across the country and around the globe, provides a creative and intellectually stimulating environment where students are challenged and guided by a committed and caring faculty of distinguished teacher-scholars. The city of Charleston serves as a living and learning laboratory for student experiences and opportunities for career development. The university bridges the old with the new in a setting that is truly extraordinary — where historic character and forward-looking innovation come together to shape a distinctive and inspiring environment for learning. A College of Charleston education focuses on discovery and personal growth, as well as preparation for life, work, and service to our society.