By tamara Have you ever been out on a Friday night and driven down Danger Road? That’s the street in your town littered with every fast food restaurant imaginable. You know the one; golden arches beckon to you and a certain bell begs you to make a run for the border. The smell of lightly salted French fries wafts in the air and the tingle of carbonated bubbles tickles your nose. Deep down you know it’s bad for you, but it just tastes so good! I usually try to justify my late-night cravings by agreeing to an extra hour or so in the gym, but recently, I have come up with a much more satisfying argument: My cheeseburger is helping other students pay for college. Call me crazy, but if you want to eat your next fast food meal guilt-free, consider visiting some of the following companies the next time you get hungry.1. Burger KingBurger King provides nearly 1,600 scholarships to high school seniors every year, with each student receiving a minimum of $1,000. Regional scholars receive $5,000 and one ‘King’ scholar receives $25,000 for college. That’s a lot of French fries! Any student who works at least 15 hours per week may apply for the award. Deadline: January 10, 2013.2. Coca-ColaYou can’t have a cheeseburger without an ice-cold Coca-Cola, and each time you order one, you help support the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. Every year, the program provides 250 scholarships ($10,000 and $20,000) to high school seniors who excel academically and give back to their communities. Deadline: October 31, 2012.3. McDonald’sThrough their Ronald McDonald House Charities, McDonald’s provides numerous scholarships to high school seniors who reside in areas near a Ronald McDonald House. Most awards are valued at $1,000 and are non-renewable. Deadline: December 20, 2012.4. Arizona Milk ProducersNothing goes better with a McDonald’s apple pie than a tall glass of milk, and for students in Arizona (18 years and younger), there’s a chance to win either an $8,000, $10,000 or $12,000 scholarship! Students must submit a photo of their best milk mustache to win. Deadline: November 2, 2012.5. Wendy’sWendy’s is anything but ‘frosty’ when it comes to helping students succeed. Through their Wendy’s High School Heisman program, they recognize outstanding high school seniors for excellence in the classroom and on the field. The first 25,000 applicants each receive a $10 gift card. There are winners from every school that gets involved, and winners at the state and national levels, as well. Deadline: October 2, 2012. So, the next time you have a craving for a late-night snack, drive through your local fast food restaurant and ask for a scholarship to go with your burger and fries. Thanks to my addiction to Whoppers™ and milkshakes, I may have already put several students through college! At least I’m putting all those calories to good use. A girl can dream, can’t she?