MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings, LLC, today announced its “MOD Scholars” high school diploma program, an education benefit for its 8,300+ MOD Squad members across the US. In partnership with nationally accredited Penn Foster, eligible Squad members at company-owned stores can now earn their high school diploma while employed at MOD. Along with covering 100 percent of tuition for each Scholar, “MOD Scholar Mentors” will provide individual support to each student as they work towards their degree.
The program is open to Squad members at any stage of their high school progression, supporting them through completion, including:
- Rolling enrollment for 25 students; as students graduate, additional Squad members will be offered a spot
- Full tuition coverage for eligible full-time and part-time Squad members; Squad members must receive a manager recommendation to be enrolled
- Flexibility to allow students to progress at their own pace
- A Penn Foster trained MOD Scholar Mentor for each student to provide encouragement, guidance, and day-to-day support
- Technology tools, including computers and hotspots, for those without access
- Support for students with an individualized education program (IEP)
“We believe in supporting our Squads and providing bridges to help them succeed at MOD and beyond. We’ve learned that a lack of a high school diploma can pose a significant barrier to career progression and wage growth,” says Marty Pisciotti, senior vice president of people, MOD Pizza. “Our goal with the MOD Scholars program is to help our Squads unlock career opportunities, open the door for college and provide economic mobility and long-term stability whether at MOD or in the next step of their journey.”
The first cohort of MOD Scholars are now enrolled in the program and are working towards their diplomas.
“I made it to the last week of my senior year of high school, but wasn’t able to graduate. I had missed too many days of school due to issues at home,” says Jessica, a MOD general manager. “I look forward to earning my degree through this program and going to college. In the future, I’d like to become a mentor for other students as I continue my career at MOD.”
The MOD Scholars program is one of many resources focused on providing stability and economic mobility for 8,300+ MOD company employees. MOD also believes in inclusive hiring practices, offers free meals to its MOD Squad and provides crisis support through its “Bridge Fund.” In 2020, the Bridge Fund provided over $750,000 in grants to assist employees in crisis during the pandemic. For its efforts to create an inspired place to work, MOD is often recognized as a progressive employer, including being named Fortune to its “Change the World” list and as a “Best Workplace” in several categories.