Mykale Baker, an 18-year-old from Dacula, Georgia, captured national attention when he showed up to his Burger King shift still wearing his graduation gown—just hours after receiving his high school diploma from Mill Creek High School. He said he wanted to support his short-staffed team, even on such a major day in his life.
A customer, Maria Mendoza, recorded the moment and posted it to TikTok, where it quickly went viral with millions of views. Moved by Baker’s dedication, Mendoza started a GoFundMe campaign titled “From Burger King to College: A Dream”, which has since raised over $190,000 to help fund his college education.
In addition to the community support, the Burger King Foundation awarded Baker a $10,000 scholarship in recognition of his hard work and inspiring story. Mendoza’s daughter, who helped promote the campaign, also received a $10,000 scholarship from the foundation.
Baker had initially planned to take a gap year due to financial challenges but now hopes to attend college this fall and pursue a career in automotive technology.
