The 2009 scholars with McDonald's owners, back row: Ken White, McDonald’s Corporation; Wendell Morgan, McDonald’s owner-operator; Bill Moore, McDonald’s owner-operator; Desiree Oines-Foreman, East Tennessee State University; Kevin Devlin, McDonald’s owner-operator; Justin Finch, University of Tennessee Chattanooga; Rich Mady, McDonald’s owner-operator; Frederick Walker, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Steve Ensley, McDonald’s Corporation; Art HoleKamp, McDonalds owner-operator; Mark Smith, McDonald’s owner-operator; Theo Webb, McDonald’s Corporation and Wasef Haibfef, McDonald’s Corporation. In the third row: David Bledsoe, McDonald’s owner-operator; Laura Wildman, Chattanooga State; Krystal Warden-Tennessee Wesleyan; Chelsea Price, University of Tennessee-Knoxville; Anna Dougherty, Dalton State; Erin Young, Dalton State; Jenna Haines, New York University; Berenice Quijano, Dalton State; Whitney Bogus, Lee University and Rob Goodwin, McDonald’s owner-operator. In the second row Qwantilla Crawford, Middle Tennessee State; Evelyn Gomez, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; Bo Hye Hwang, Southern Adventist; Janet Figueroa, University of Georgia; Erica Figueroa, University of Georgia; David Ramos, Southern Polytechnic State; Dulce Jacobo, Dalton State; Ja’Lisa Fredrick, Christian Brothers; Damond Torrey, East Tennessee State; Peggy Ellis, McDonald’s Corporation. In the front row: Agustin Jacobo, Dalton State; Megan Cromer, Clemson; Morgan O’Neal, Fisk University; Chandra Wooden, Lee University; Gatlin Thornberry, Auburn; James Kwee, New York University and Yong Ho Chun, Georgia Tech. Click to enlarge.
Forty 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 at Brainerd United Methodist Church.
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:
Meagen Akins, Berry College; Whitney Bogus, Lee University; Yong Ho Chun, Georgia Tech; Qwantilla Crawford, Middle Tennessee State University; Megan Cromer, Clemson; Anna Dougherty, Dalton State; Janet Figueroa, University of Georgia; Erica Figueroa, University of Georgia; Justin Finch, University of Tennessee Chattanooga; Ja’Lisa Fredrick, Christian Brothers; Evelyn Gomez, University of Tennessee Chattanooga; Jenna Haines, New York University; Kelsea Hickman, Furman; Ji Hwang, Southern Adventist; Bo Hye Hwang, Southern Adventist; Agustin Jacobo, Dalton State; Dulce Jacobo, Dalton State; Rocio Jacobo, Mercer; James Kwee, New York University; James Laney, Lee University; Desirae Oines-Foreman, East Tennessee State University; Morgan O’Neal, Fisk University; Chelsea Price, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Berenice Quijano, Dalton State; David Ramos; Southern Polytechnic; Dustin Shrader, Mercer; Shateria Smith, University of Tennessee Chattanooga; Haley Sosebee, North Georgia College; Ana Souza, Ware Salem; Tiffany Taylor, University of Chicago; Gatlin Thornberry, Auburn; James Tobin, Stanford; Damond Torrey, East Tennessee State University; Frederick Walker, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Krystal Warden, Tennessee Wesleyan; Tela Warren, Berea College; Lauren Wildman, University of Tennessee Chattanooga; Chandra Wooden, Lee University; Russell Wright, Georgia Southern and Erin Young, West Georgia.
"Our 2009 scholarship recipients were selected from a top pool of outstanding students," said Jane Kaylor, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. "We are proud to recognize them for their hard work and tremendous service to their communities.”
Students were selected to receive an RMHC scholarship based on their grade point average, community involvement, letters of recommendation, and financial need. As part of the selection process, students also undergo interviews by a committee of local volunteers. 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 nearly $300,000 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. For more information about the RMHC scholarship program visit: www.rmhchattanooga.com.