Students in the Greater Chattanooga area can apply for a $1,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarship to help with college expenses. Local McDonald’s Owners have donated more than $500,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga for scholarships to area students over the last twelve years.
The scholarship provides financial support to students who may have limited access to educational opportunities. Five volunteer judges review each application and choose winners based on community service, school activities, work experience, need and leadership. The top 60 students are then invited for a personal interview before a panel.
Each year, a minimum of 36 high school seniors and four college sophomores are each awarded $1,000. In 2014, area McDonald’s restaurants raised funding through special promotions in their stores to award 47 scholarships to local students for a total of $47,000. These students are now enrolled in universities from Boston to Alabama, as well as at UTC. With the rising cost of tuition and expenses, $1,000 can go far in helping a student prepare for the future.
“As local business owners, it is important to us to give back to the community that has given so much to us,” said Art Holekamp, McDonald’s owner/operator. “Education is important to us, and these scholarships often make the difference in whether or not a student decides to attend college. The award recipients are our future corporate, social and civic leaders, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to help give them a start on their path.”
The scholarships are made possible by an endowment created by the owner/operators in the Greater Chattanooga area and are awarded through the local chapter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities with support from RMHC Global. The Ronald McDonald House provides temporary homes for families who have critically ill children undergoing medical treatment at local hospitals.
“We always have a number of extremely talented applicants, and the decision process is never an easy one,” said Jane Kaylor, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. “We are thrilled to contribute to the scholarships and look forward to this time of year to open enrollment and begin the application process.”
The application process for the 2015 Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarship is open now until Jan. 20, 2015. Students can use the following link to apply online http://www.rmhchattanooga.com/www/docs/112.