Shannon Smith holds her diploma Monday at the Lumberton McDonald’s restaurant on Fayetteville Road. Smith recently earned her associate degree from Colorado Technical University through McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity free tuition program. David Kennard | The Robesonian

 Lumberton McDonald’s celebrates graduation of college graduate Shannon Smith

David Kennard 

The Robesonian 

LUMBERTON — City officials joined with local and corporate leaders from the McDonald’s Corporation Monday to celebrate Shannon Smith’s college graduation.

Officials from Colorado Technical University were also on hand to present Smith with her associate’s degree diploma. Smith is the latest graduate to take advantage of McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program that covers 100% of an employee’s tuition to CTU.

Smith, 48, said that while she got a late start to her higher education dream, plans to pursue her bachelor’s, masters and even doctorate degrees through the CTU program, which has similar partnerships with companies around the country.

According to information provided by McDonald’s, more than 82,500 restaurant employees in the U.S. have enrolled in Archways to Opportunity since it was launched in 2015.

David Kennard is the executive editor of the Robesonian. Reach him by email at dkennard@robesonian.com.