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 employee, the Grand Prize in its ongoing #UKunduGood campaign.

Michelle was nominated for a simple yet powerful act of kindness—quietly covering the cost of a customer’s breakfast when they came up short during a busy morning shift. “I saw someone in need, and I wanted to help,” she said. Her selfless gesture captured the spirit of the campaign, which celebrates everyday people who uplift others through small but meaningful actions.

"What Michelle did may seem small, but it created a ripple of kindness,” said Catrina Burks, communications coordinator for the college and creator of the #UKunduGood campaign. “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.”

Michelle was invited to campus under the pretense of taking a photo for her nomination. Instead, she was surprised on camera with the Grand Prize: a gift basket and a complimentary two-night stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Pensacola Beach, generously donated by the hotel in recognition of her kindness.

A video of the surprise is now available 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, shines a spotlight on individuals across the Gulf Coast who embody quiet courage, compassion, and care—reminding us all that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.

To learn more about the campaign, visit uwf.edu/ukundugood.