ORLANDO, Fla. — Two McDonald’s employees recently earned college degrees while working full time, and an Orlando restaurant celebrated the achievement Tuesday.
Angello Peña and Victor Rivera completed their degrees through Archways to Opportunity, an education program that provides tuition assistance and other support to eligible McDonald’s employees, according to company representatives.
The celebration took place at the McDonald’s at 4640 S. Orange Blossom Trail during a meeting of local general managers.
Returning to school
For Rivera, continuing his education meant building on an associate degree he earned nearly two decades ago.
“At first, I was worried about how difficult it would be to transfer my credits from the AA I earned in 2007, but I was able to restart and complete my education without any issues through Archways,” Rivera said.
Peña said flexible coursework helped him balance school with his financial responsibilities.
“The flexibility of the courses through Archways meant I didn’t have to sacrifice full-time work for my education,” Peña said. “Being able to still make ends meet while furthering my education gave me confidence in my decision.”
Education support for employees
Local owner and operator Eric Ha supported Tuesday’s celebration, which included cake and a presentation from Colorado Technical University about educational opportunities for employees.
Both graduates said the program was easy to begin and flexible enough to fit their schedules, according to the company’s representatives.
Employees can learn more about available educational benefits and eligibility through the Archways to Opportunity website.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
