DALLAS – Last fall, 7-Eleven announced a contest for military veterans (or soon-to-be veterans), in which the winner would have the opportunity to own a 7-Eleven franchise without the expense of a franchise fee.  This week, 7-Eleven announced the 10 semi-finalists, selected from more than 1,700 applications received.

Now, the public will have the chance to vote for their favorite contestant throughout the month of March, as each of them have posted their “Why I Should Win Operation: Take Command” videos on 7-Eleven’s Facebook page. The top three contenders will be determined by public voting and will then have one-on-one interviews with 7-Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto, who himself is a veteran. The contest winner will be announced in May, and the winner will receive a waiver of the franchise fee, valued at up to $190,000, to franchise any of the company’s U.S.-based 7-Eleven convenience stores.

“We have been amazed at the huge interest and outstanding quality of those who have applied for a franchise fee-free 7-Eleven store in our Operation: Take Command contest,” said Greg Franks, 7-Eleven vice president of franchise systems. “Choosing a winner will be tough because of the high caliber of these 10 individuals and we are counting on the public to make the decision on who advances to the final round.”

To make the voting even more impactful, 7-Eleven will contribute $1 for every vote cast, up to $50,000, to Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit organization that works with transitioning service members, veterans and spouses from military service into civilian success .

Read more about the 10 semi-finalists here.