Local students receive McDonald House scholarships

Tijara Miller

Pauletta Karmon

Zoe Gonzales

Brittany Woolard

Gerardo Sosa

Local studentsreceive McDonald House scholarships

Fifty Charlotte-area students were awarded $1,000 scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina (RMHC of NC) and local McDonald’s owner/operators for outstanding academic achievement and community involvement.

The local scholars are among 181 students from across the Carolinas who received college scholarships from RMHC of NC and local McDonald’s franchisees.

All scholarship recipients were honored at an awards reception on May 26 in Concord.

RMHC scholarship recipients were chosen based on their leadership skills, academic success, community involvement, financial need and a personal essay describing how they intend to make a difference in society.

This year’s local recipients:

• Zoe Gonzales, Salisbury High School ,with plans to attend Wake Forest University;

• Gerardo Sosa, Salisbury High School, with plans to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte;

• Yareli Luna and Bransyn Motley of Salisbury;

• Tijara Miller, North Rowan High School, with plans to attend North Carolina Central University.

In addition to the RMHC Scholars, 13 local McDonald’s employees were awarded $1,000 Ray Kroc Youth Achievement Award Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to McDonald’s employees who are furthering their secondary education and have made significant contributions to their communities and achieved academic success.

This year’s local Ray Kroc Scholarship recipients:

• Pauletta Karmon from Rowan Early College, Salisbury;

• Brittany Woolard from South Rowan High School, China Grove.

RMHC of NC is committed to the health and well-being of children. From 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.