08/14/2025
McDonald’s restaurants in Oshawa and Clarington presented their 2025 Employee Scholarship Winners. Steve Wilson, Owner/Operator is pictured with Grace Melnick, Riley Czarkowski, Kierra MacLean, Ethan O' Brien and Hemanti Badam. Missing from the photo Ibrahim Haroon and Rebecca Sali. The winners were selected for making a difference at work, at school and in the community. Each winner will receive $1,000 towards their post-secondary education.
The McDonald's Employee Scholarship is a program that was established in 1981 in Oshawa by Don Wilson, Steve's Dad to reward employees for their dedication to work, their studies and their communities. McDonald's restaurants of Oshawa and Clarington continue this commitment today to nuturing talent, helping employees meet their personal and educational goals and to celebrating exceptional achievement.
Meet the 2025 employee scholarship winners!
Grace Melnick
Grace began working at our Bowmanville restaurant in August 2021. She is currently a Crew Trainer, mentoring and training our new employees, while also providing direction and leadership during each of her shifts. A graduate of Bowmanville High School, Grace has just completed her first year at Durham College in the Emergency Services Fundamentals Certificate program. This fall she will be returning to Durham, for the Paramedics Program
Riley Czarkowski
Since joining the Bowmanville team in June of 2022 Riley has progressed to his current position of Swing Manager. A graduate of Bowmanville High School in the French Immersion Program, Riley is enrolled at Seneca Polytechnic in the Bachelor of Aviation Technology Program. His career goal is to become a commercial pilot for Air Canada.
Kierra MacLean
Kierra began working in February of 2023 at our Kingsway restaurant. As a crew trainer she offers a welcoming and supportive environment to our new and existing employees. A graduate of Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School, Kierra is on her way to Guelph University.
She is enrolled in the Bioresource Management Program and hopes to continue her studies to become a large animal veterinarian.
Ethan O' Brien
Ethan has been a crew member at our Simcoe St. restaurant since August of 2022. A graduate of Maxwell Heights Secondary School he is enrolled at Ontario Tech University in the Bachelor of Health Science Kinesiology Program. Ethan plans to complete his Bachelor of Education and become a secondary school gym teacher.
Ibrahim Haroon (not in attendance)
Ibrahim joined the team at our Simcoe St. restaurant in February 2023. As a crew trainer he makes an impact on the development and continual learning of our staff each and every shift.
A graduate of Maxwell Heights Secondary School, he will be starting the Bachelor of Engineering Electrical program this fall at Ontario Tech University.
Hemanti Badam
Hemanti is a crew member at our Simcoe Street restaurant, having joined the team in August of 2023. A graduate of O'Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute, she will be attending Ontario Tech University this fall. Hemanti plans to earn a degree in Computer Science and then work towards becoming a high school math teacher where her true passion lies.
Rebecca Sali (not in attendance)
Rebecca is a graduate of St. Stephen's Catholic Secondary School. She joined our Newcastle team in January of 2023. She will be attending Brock University this fall, enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts Psychology program. Rebecca plans to continue her education with a PhD and aspires to become a University Professor.
