We are excited to announce that Charletta T., a two-time alumna of Colorado Technical University (CTU) through our Center for Corporate Engagement (CCE) partnership with McDonald’s, has been awarded the prestigious Learner of the Year Award by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) for 2024.
Charletta's journey is one of resilience, perseverance, and dedication. Thirty-four years ago, she started working at McDonald’s as a second job to support her family. Despite the challenges of balancing work and life, Charletta’s commitment to personal and professional growth led her to rise through the ranks at McDonald’s. Now, with MacLaff, Inc. in Louisiana, she helps oversee the operations of 44 franchises locally owned by EJ Krampe and Chris Krampe.
In her acceptance speech, Charletta shared the importance of becoming a "subject matter expert" in adult learning and expressed her gratitude to both CTU and McDonald’s for their critical role in her success.
Her educational journey as an adult learner is equally inspiring. Charletta earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2019 and her MBA in 2022. Charletta’s achievements are a testament to what can be accomplished with support, guidance, and determination.
But what makes Charletta’s story even more special is her dedication to helping others follow in her footsteps. As a supervisor and trainer at McDonald’s, Charletta is passionate about supporting her coworkers' educational and professional growth. She is a proud ambassador for McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity® program, which provides educational benefits to employees ranging from high school diplomas to college degrees. Charletta regularly shares her story during new crew and manager orientations, encouraging others to pursue their own educational goals.
As she put it in her heartfelt speech, "It’s an honor to be here sharing my story... My parents taught me the meaning of hard work and persistence. My father, with only a second-grade education, worked as a sharecropper. My mother, with only a sixth-grade education, was a maid and caregiver. They taught me that resilience is the key to success."
Charletta’s journey is a powerful reminder of the impact adult learning can have on both personal and professional lives. We are proud to support learners like Charletta and celebrate her well-deserved recognition.
To hear more of Charletta's inspiring words, her acceptance speech is available here: Charletta T - CAEL Learner of the Year 2024 Acceptance Speech (Starts at 6:00 through 15:00)
Photo1: Charletta receiving her award on stage in New Orleans at CAEL’s 50th Anniversary Conference
Photo 2: Joe Adolf - CTU CCE VP, Charletta T, and Lisa Schumacher – McDonald’s Director of Education Strategies & Workforce Policy
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