Twelve Students Receive Scholarships from Distinguished Restaurants of North America and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
New York (June 12, 2006) - About 150 restaurant industry leaders gathered at Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Chicago on May 23, 2006 for the 15th Annual DiRoNA /NRAEF Scholarship Luncheon. The event honored the 12 exceptional students pursuing careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry that were awarded $24,000 ($2,000 each) in scholarships by the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).
Scholarships were given in honor of past DiRoNA Chairman Larry Work, of Sam and Harry’s Management Company in Washington, D.C.; American Express Company; Coca-Cola Foodservice and Hospitality; E&J Gallo Winery; Johnson and Wales University; Sysco Corporation; Food Arts magazine and Nation’s Restaurant News.
“We are pleased to honor these promising students and to recognize key DiRoNA members and partners by naming this year’s scholarships in their honor,” said Charles Marshall, chairman of DiRoNA and co-owner of Mt. Stox restaurant in Anaheim, CA.
“The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is proud to have the support of such a prestigious organization as DiRoNA,” said Mary Adolf, president and chief operating officer of the NRAEF. “We share a belief in the importance of supporting the future workforce of the restaurant and foodservice industry through educational scholarships.”
The 2006 scholarship recipients are: Dale Willis, Madison Area Technical College (Madison, WI); Monti Tyler Smith, Fox Valley Technical School (Appleton, WI); Carol Anne Steffey, Vincennes University (Vincennes, IN); and Jacob Wilch, Hocking College (Nelsonville, OH); Brandon Snider, Lansing Community College (Lansing, MI); Julie Johnston, Iowa State University (Ames, IA); Matthew Evans, The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY); William Richey, Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI); Rachel Oliver, The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY); Nicole Atkins, Humber School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Elizabeth Gagnon, Stratford Chefs School (Stratford, Ontario, Canada); and Nick Morley, Humber School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
In 1987, DiRoNA established the endowment with the NRAEF to encourage students to pursue careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. DiRoNA and the NRAEF have since awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to nearly 150 students. Undergraduate students preparing for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry with at least 750 hours of working experience are encouraged to apply for the scholarships. Information on the program is available online at www.dirona.org and www.nraef.org.
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About DiRoNA
DiRoNA was established in 1990 to promote the fine dining industry. This non-profit organization conducts independent restaurant inspections and offers the only fine-dining guarantee in North America. The DiRoNA Award of Excellence is bestowed upon only the most distinguished fine dining establishments. To be eligible, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership, for a minimum of three years. The rigorous, anonymous 75-point inspection process scrutinizes every aspect of the dining experience—food, wine, service, physical property and décor. To date, fewer than 800 restaurants have received the DiRoNA Distinction.
About the NRAEF
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. As the nation's largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the American economy, of career-and-employment opportunities, and of local communities. Focusing on three key strategies of risk management, recruitment, and retention, the NRAEF is the premier provider of educational resources, materials, and programs, which address attracting, developing and retaining the industry’s workforce. Sales from all NRAEF products and services benefit the industry by directly supporting the NRAEF's educational initiatives. For more information on the NRAEF, visit www.nraef.org
Chef2Chef News Desk