40 exceptional local high school seniors received $40,000 in college scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. The students celebrated their commitment to academic achievement and community service at an award luncheon held recently at Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga.

The recipients of the four RMHC scholarship programs, RMHC/African-American Future Achievers, RMHC/Asian Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement, RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources, or RMHC/Scholars are as follows: Amelia Garner (Jacksonville State – Al.), Angela Young (University of Alabama-Huntsville), Benjamin Massengale (North Georgia College), Ashley Burgess (Vanderbilt), Porschia Johnson (Furman), Brandon McGee (University of Tennessee – Knoxville), Brittany Keehan (St. John's College), Cameron Day (University of Georgia), Camille Woods (Tennessee Tech), Chris Lord (Georgetown), Cory Woodard (George Washington), Dadrien Barnes

(University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Donna Lee (New York University), Elizabeth Thrasher (University of Tennessee –Chattanooga), Gabriel Villafuerte (Dalton State), Irene Quintero (Dalton State), Jasmine Horton (Appalachian State), Jeb Phillips (Baylor University), Ji Hwang (Southern Adventist), Joshua Wright (Northwestern Tech Community College), Julia Gillette (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Meagan Stevens (Tennessee Wesleyan), Justin Huggins (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga), Tania Mathurin (Notre Dame), Laura Vaughn (North Georgia College), Justin Gentry (Shorter College), Megan Williamson (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Amanda Lankford (Tennessee Tech), Ricky Whitener (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Kyle Johnson (Houghton College), Talley Wood (Wake Forest), Justin Saul (University of Georgia), Kelsea Hickman (Furman) Kaneshe Earvin (MTSU), Rocio Jacobo (Mercer), Tiffany Taylor (University of Chicago), Season Helms (University of Georgia), Yooji Cho (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Chelsea Johnson (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Kimberly Creek (Mississippi College), Yuliana Lopez (Berry College), and Alice Lee (University of Georgia).

"We're thrilled to see so many young people dedicated to working hard to pursue their dreams," said Jane Kaylor, executive director, Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House Charities. "I am proud to be a part of an organization that acknowledges the importance of higher education and helps improve the lives of our future leaders."

Students were selected to receive an RMHC scholarship based their grade point average, community involvement, letters of recommendation, and financial need. The scholarship funds can be used towards tuition or expenses at the college or university of the recipients' choice.

Scholarships are jointly funded by grants from the global Ronald McDonald House Charities and the fundraising efforts of local McDonald's owner/operators and corporate staff. Since the program began in 2002, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga has awarded more than $240,000 in scholarship funds to high school students who reside in the Tennessee Valley and surrounding areas.

Students of all backgrounds are eligible to apply for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship Program. To apply, students must be high school seniors; be eligible to attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full course of study, reside in a participating local Chapter's geographic area; and submit a completed application and all required documentation by the proposed deadline.