In a heartwarming surprise this week, the University of West Florida’s Usha Kundu, MD College of Health awarded Michelle, a local McDonald’s drive-thru worker, the Grand Prize in its #UKunduGood campaign.
- Michelle was nominated for her everyday act of kindness — stepping in during a busy morning shift to quietly pay for a customer’s breakfast when they came up short. “I saw someone in need, and I wanted to help,” she shared. Her generosity captured the spirit of the #UKunduGood campaign, which celebrates everyday people doing extraordinary good.
“What Michelle did may seem small, but it created a ripple of kindness,” said Dr. David Bellar, Dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. “She reminds us that compassion doesn’t need a stage — it just needs a moment. Through the #UKunduGood campaign, we’re working to rebuild the connection between positivity and health care. After the emotional toll of the pandemic, stories like Michelle’s help us re-center our focus on empathy, service and the humanity at the heart of health.”
The College surprised Michelle under the pretense of taking her photo for her nomination, then presented her with the Grand Prize on campus. Michelle received a gift basket and a complimentary two-night stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Pensacola Beach — generously donated by the hotel’s leadership in recognition of her kindness.
A video of the surprise is available now on the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The #UKunduGood campaign, named in honor of the College’s namesake, celebrates individuals across the Gulf Coast region who uplift their communities through quiet courage, compassion and care.
To learn more or nominate someone, visit uwf.edu/ukundugood.
Podcast:
Here is our podcast announcing the campaign in August 2024: