Ronald McDonald House Charities, McDonald’s and AT&T Award $68,000 In College Scholarships to Students Across Charlotte
Scholars recognized during banquet at Gastonia Convention Center
(3BL Media) Charlotte, NC - July 11, 2012 - Thirty-eight Charlotte-area students have been awarded $1,000 scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities® of North Carolina (RMHC® of NC) and thirty students have received the $1,000 Ray Kroc Youth Achievement Award Scholarship, funded by local McDonald’s® Owner/Operators. Award recipients were selected based on outstanding academic achievement and community involvement. The students will be recognized at an awards reception, sponsored by McDonald’s, today at the Gastonia Convention Center on 145 South Marietta St. in Gastonia at noon.
New for 2012, through the CBS EcoMedia EducationAd, AT&T is awarding $18,000 to RMHC of NC towards its Scholarship Program, resulting in scholarships for 18 additional students. Historically, supporting education has been a major focus for AT&T and it continues to be a key philanthropic focus.
“AT&T is strongly committed to helping students complete high school and move on to college or the workforce,” said Carlos Sanchez, AT&T’s Area Director for External Affairs. “We believe every student has the potential to succeed and are pleased to be working with McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and EcoMedia to expand the number of Charlotte-area students who will receive scholarships. We applaud this year’s recipients for how they are embracing the future and for their determination to reach their dreams through education.”
RMHC scholarship recipients were chosen based on leadership skills, academic success, community involvement, financial need and a personal essay describing how they intend to make a difference in society.
“Every year, I am impressed by the applicants who have demonstrated a high standard of commitment to higher education and as local business owners, it’s an honor to help send these students to college,” said McDonald’s Owner/Operator, David Powell. “RMHC, McDonald’s and AT&T are committed to higher education and we welcome the opportunity to assist promising students succeed in reaching their goals.” Powell owns restaurants in Charlotte, NC, and Rock Hill, SC.
This year’s local RMHC Scholarship winners are:
Ada Gil Jimenez, Charlotte Alexia Hall, Gastonia Ashley Hargrove, Statesville
Cody Taylor, Lincolnton Desireé Thomas, Matthews Frank Silva, Mooresville
Hannah Haas, Charlotte Hayley Parks, Gastonia Janine Chang, Hickory
John Leckrone, Waxhaw Jordan Young, Cornelius Katie Waldroup, Kannapolis
Katharine Ross, Stanfield Kendall McCorkle, Mount Holly Lesly Luque, Charlotte
Melissa Sigmon, Valdese Teresa Rocha, Shelby Jiavanna Medlock, Concord
Meredith Avant, Charlotte Moe Win, Charlotte Mark Igbinadolor, Waxhaw
Naya Tapper, Charlotte Nicole Frey, Harrisburg Alexander Phifer, Charlotte
Iheanyi Opara, Jr., Concord Joseph Quisol, Charlotte Casey Read, Denver
Roxanne Dsouza, Concord Moua Xiong, Kannapolis Santiago Patino, Cornelius
Shelly Vigil, Mooresville Suzanna Payne, Charlotte Steven Tran, Charlotte
Tania Morales, Charlotte Kayla McGuire, Matthews Taylor Jackson, Charlotte
Thalita Cortes, Charlotte Vanessa Payne, Charlotte
At the celebration, in addition to the RMHC Scholarships, McDonald’s Owner/Operators awarded $1,000 Ray Kroc Youth Achievement Award Scholarships to 30 Charlotte-area McDonald’s employees. These scholarships are given to McDonald’s employees who are furthering their secondary education, have made significant contributions to their communities and are achieving academic success.
This year’s Ray Kroc Scholarship recipients include:
Sadé Adams, Charlotte Tyre’Unna Bowens, Greensboro Carolyn Burries, Charlotte
Jordan Caldwell, Indian Trail Brittnay Cannon, York Brittany Davis, Charlotte
Mario Delgado, Charlotte Devon DiSarro, Gastonia Jeanette Emery, Indian Trail
Ashley Fraley, Mount Holly Joshua Harrington, Cheraw Lakeai Harrison, Hiddenite
Christy Holmes, Charlotte Julian Kira, Hickory Ashley Kiziah, Granite Falls
Tabbatha Lapage, Hickory William Nollenberger, Salisbury Victor Onuoha, Mooresville
Sharmeika Perkins, Charlotte Rebekah Raab, Gastonia Robert Raab, Gastonia
Ashley Rogers, Cornelius Maryssa Sadler, Charlotte Becca Seagraves, Rockingham
Amanda Smith, Cherryville Brianna Stevenson, Charlotte Brittany Stevenson, Charlotte
Justin Tomlin, Statesville Courtney Van Erem, Olin Jasmine Williams, Davidson
These local scholars are among 159 students from across North Carolina who received college scholarships from RMHC of NC and local McDonald’s franchisees.
About RMHC of NC
RMHC of NC is committed to the health and well-being of children. From grants to the five Ronald McDonald Houses in North Carolina that serve as “homes away from home” for families with seriously ill children to annual scholarships and grants for community programming, their outreach touches thousands of children each year. RMHC of NC, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is based in Raleigh, NC, and is governed by a board of directors comprised of business, civic leaders, and McDonald's representatives.
About McDonald’s
McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local business men and women. Customers can now log online for free at any of the 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter (@McDonalds) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonalds) for updates on our business, promotions and products.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
About CBS EcoMedia Inc.
At EcoMedia, we're propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that's been our mission since we founded the company in 2002. In 2008, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media. Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide. In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change. Please visit ecomediacbs.com to learn more.
By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities. EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.
