Mensa Platinum Achievement. National Merit Commended Scholar. National Youth Council member for Keep America Beautiful. President, Mayor’s Youth Commission of Arlington. Top of his class. Stellar college admission tests. Dedicated, smart and community minded. All things that describe a unique 16-year-old named Liam Horne.

Before April 15, 2019, Liam didn’t have a strong connection to Pizza Hut, aside from an insatiable love of pizza. In fact, his mom Julie confessed that Liam’s favorite food group is pizza – for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, that connection forever changed at Uplift Education’s College Signing Day (CSD) when Pizza Hut President Artie Starrs presented Liam with the $25,000 Life Unboxed Scholarship.

Liam received the scholarship in front of a large crowd of parents, Uplift staff and students, there to celebrate and support graduating seniors as they proclaimed their future college plans or military branch they will serve.

Each year, Pizza Hut’s Life Unboxed Scholarship is awarded to one eligible Uplift Education charter school senior who demonstrates superb academic success, a love for learning, and commitment to college, community and character. Pizza Hut opened the application process for the 2018-19 scholarship in December 2018 and received many applications from qualified students – or scholars, as Uplift Education refers to them. The committee at Pizza Hut narrowed the pool of applicants to five finalists and invited each to meet with an interview panel including leadership team members. While all of the scholars were top notch, Liam stood out.

Liam’s affinity for giving back to his community was evident throughout the application process and became more apparent as he mentioned “community” often during his interviews. One way he gives back is by volunteering for Miracle League, an organization that gives children with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball regardless of their abilities. Every Saturday during the fall and spring seasons, Liam sets up the fields before the games and then acts as a buddy to one of the children. He also volunteers as a camp assistant at a local science center and as a Junior Volunteer at Arlington Memorial Hospital.

As Liam looks to the future, he plans to become a doctor, inspired to make a difference after seeing a member of his family battle chronic health issues. His first step to realizing this dream will be studying biology at Emory University in Atlanta this fall. From there, Liam plans to attend medical school to become a cardiologist.

Liam will undoubtedly make his family, the DFW community, Uplift network and Pizza Hut even more proud in the years to come. Congratulations to the future Dr. Horne!