A Remarkable Future for Jose Davila
- Lisa Campos
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
(This article was written by Lisa Campos and was featured in the April 2026 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
On February 24, Jose Davila’s life changed forever. Frank Castellanos, operator of both Chick-fil-A franchises in Harlingen, and Jose’s boss, asked Jose to come to Chick-fil-A Sunshine Strip under false pretenses. He told Jose that a mandatory trainers’ meeting was being held. Jose remembered that one of his leads had told him the previous weekend that the CEO would be visiting the restaurant on the 24th for an inspection.
Jose, an employee of Chick-fil-A for the past three years, assumed the meeting was connected to the CEO’s visit. “Up until the day of the surprise, I had absolutely no suspicion that anything unusual was being planned,” he said. Suggestions by Mr. Castellanos for Jose to wear his Sunday best and his parents for Jose to get a haircut did not raise any flags for Jose. “I simply assumed they wanted me to look presentable for the meeting and the CEO’s visit,” Jose reflected.
Outside the restaurant on February 24, the Harlingen Fire Department parked a fire truck in the curbside parking zone. Some passersby feared there had been an accident at the restaurant and avoided the area. However, inside the restaurant, excitement was brewing for a surprise even the invited guests did not know about.
One week prior, the Castellanos family invited community leaders such as Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) Superintendent Dr. Veronica Kortan, members of the RGV Hispanic Chamber, Explore Harlingen, and others to come to the restaurant for a surprise. All the guests were told was that a member of the Chick-fil-A, Inc. founding family was coming from Atlanta, Georgia on February 24 to recognize the restaurant on Sunshine Strip.
The invited guests were gathered in the restaurant where the atmosphere was buzzing. Photographers and videographers were filming the crowd and cheerfully decorated interior. We then waited outside in a neighboring parking lot for the arrival of CEO Andrew Cathy, who had been delayed on his arrival at Valley International Airport.
Finally, it was time to reveal the big surprise: Mr. Cathy presented Jose with a check for $25,000, a Remarkable Futures™ scholarship! Jose had tears in his eyes as he accepted the check. His family looked on, full of pride. A parade of costumed Cow characters and bystanders cheered on Jose, waving cutouts of his kindergarten graduation picture on sticks.
When asked what it meant to Jose to not only receive a scholarship from CEO Mr. Cathy, but the largest scholarship offered, Jose stated, “To me, this scholarship represents far more than financial support—it represents belief, opportunity, and a responsibility to continue striving toward the goals I have set for myself. This recognition means so much to me because of where I come from. I am the son of hardworking immigrants who sacrificed comfort, stability, and familiarity so their children could have opportunities they never had. Receiving this scholarship makes their sacrifices feel even more meaningful, because it shows that the risks they took and the hard work they endured were not in vain.”
Jose continued, “It also means a great deal to represent my Hispanic roots and my community in the Rio Grande Valley (the “Valley”). Growing up in the Valley taught me the importance of faith, humility, hard work, and supporting one another. As a first-generation college student, moments like these carry a deeper meaning. They are not just personal achievements, but reflections of the families, mentors, and communities that helped shape who we are.”
This is Jose’s second scholarship from Chick-fil-A. His first was for $1,000 last year. Jose had his older sister Genoveva to look up to and motivate him. She was also a Chick-fil-A employee in Harlingen who received scholarships from Chick-fil-A for four consecutive years.
Through the Remarkable Futures scholarship program, launched in 1973, Chick-fil-A has donated more than $215 million to award more than 122,000 Team Member scholarships to help them pursue a higher education, per the Chick-fil-A website.
Each year, Chick-fil-A selects Team Member applicants who meet the established criteria and awards them scholarships in the amounts of $1,000, $2,500, and for a chosen few such as Jose Davila, $25,000. Jose is the only Team Member from the state of Texas to receive that amount. Only 13 Team Members nationwide received the maximum scholarship in 2025.
Castellanos proudly remarked, “At a tender age (of 19), Jose’s a self-starter who is already accepting more responsibility and growth. He’s the embodiment of what we want in a Chick-fil-A employee: he has a strong work ethic, integrity, and a heart of service.”
Beyond the base criteria, $25,000 scholarship winners must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate financial need, and share how they made an impact on their community, friends, and family over the previous 12 months, both inside and outside of the restaurant.
Andrew Cathy, who insists on announcing the $25,000 scholarships in person to the winners all over the country said, “Creating greater access to education is one of the best ways Chick-fil-A serves communities. Our long-standing commitment to investing in the future dreams and aspirations of restaurant Team Members remains at the forefront of Chick-fil-A’s efforts to have a positive impact on the lives of others.”
Jose is a graduate of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Harlingen Collegiate High School. His alma mater congratulated him on Facebook, commenting that “Jose continues to represent Owl Nation with excellence, and this achievement is a testament to his dedication both in the workplace and in his educational journey.”
He is in his first year at UTRGV, majoring in Biology. Jose plans on continuing to work at Chick-fil-A in Harlingen for most of his undergraduate years due to the flexible hours, the “unwavering support” he receives from his Team Members and leads, and future scholarship opportunities.
Jose lamented, “More than anything, this scholarship motivates me to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a dentist. Knowing that leaders like Mr. Cathy believe in my potential gives me even greater confidence to keep pushing forward. I hope to one day give back to communities like the one that raised me and inspire other students from similar backgrounds to believe that their goals are possible, too.”
Outside the restaurant that fateful night on February 24, the Harlingen Fire Department firefighters who had been patiently waiting atop the fire truck crane for the program to end threw confetti and stuffed cow toys with tiny parachutes down to Jose and the crowd as he exited the building. Mariachi music filled the air and the costumed Cows danced along just as the sun was setting. It was a beautiful ending to a glorious, life-changing evening, and I’m sure Jose and his family will never forget it.
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