$73,000 was awarded to twenty-four top students and two educators
(Chicago, Ill.) The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) presented $73,000 in scholarships during the 2007 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held May 19-22, at McCormick Place in Chicago, to exceptional high school seniors, undergraduate students and educators pursuing careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. The scholarship awards were presented during the 20th Annual Salute to Excellence, an event hosted by the NRAEF on Saturday, May 19th, at the Hilton Chicago.
“Bringing together all of these gifted and motivated students to an event such as Salute to Excellence provided us with the perfect opportunity to recognize these bright young minds and encourage them to enter our industry,” said Mary M. Adolf, NRAEF president and chief operating officer. “It is essential that our industry reward students who exhibit a true passion for the restaurant and foodservice industry.”
The following organizations presented scholarships at Salute to Excellence:
The Coca-Cola Company awarded two $5,000 scholarships to student honor delegates during the Salute to Excellence Michael E. Hurst Student Forum: Julie Southern from Plantation, FL – Johnson & Wales University; and Alexandros Karas from West Dundee, IL – Iowa State University
Golden Corral Corporation awarded the $5,000 James H. Maynard “Excellence in Education” Awards to two deserving ProStart educators during the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala and Banquet
The Al Schuman Entrepreneurial Scholarship awarded a total of $19,000 to four undergraduate and high school students at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala and Banquet
The Robert E. Rich, Sr. Chairman’s Award Scholarship awarded a total of $10,000 to four undergraduate students attending Johnson & Wales, the Culinary of Institute of America and Cornell University at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala and Banquet
The NRAEF, in partnership with the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), awarded twelve scholarships for a total of $24,000 during the Michael E. Hurst Student Forum. The scholarships were awarded to twelve student honor delegates, nine from the United States and three from Canada.
Scholarships to deserving high school and undergraduate students provide an opportunity to recruit these talented students that will be the future leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, scholarships awarded to leading educators enable them to build upon their skills and ensure that students receive the education necessary to prepare them for their careers. Three years after receiving their scholarships, three out of four NRAEF Scholarship recipients are still studying or working in the foodservice industry.
Now in its 88th year, the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals the Western Hemisphere. The 2007 Show will be held May 19-22, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. The Show attracts 2,100 exhibiting companies and 73,000 attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 110 countries. Free, online media registration and more information can be found on the Show Web site at www.restaurant.org/show/media.
