North Carolina hospitality industry awards $49,000 in scholarship and grant funding

To foster the future of the state’s hospitality industry, the North Carolina Hospitality Education Foundation provides scholarships to 16 students pursuing hospitality-related degrees.    

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association’s philanthropic arm, the North Carolina Hospitality Education Foundation (NC HEF), has announced its scholarship and grant recipients for 2018. Sixteen students, and one educator, within the state have been selected to receive $49,000 in scholarships and grant funding.

Scholarships are distributed to students pursuing post-secondary studies in culinary arts, restaurant management or similar fields, or to students whose parents are current hospitality industry employees. Grant funding supports educators in those fields.

“It is NC HEF’s goal to attract, develop and retain a career-oriented professional workforce for the hospitality industry. Through our industry’s generous donations, the future of North Carolina’s hospitality industry can receive education and training prior to pursuing careers in the industry without the burden of finances,” said NCRLA and NC HEF President and CEO Lynn Minges.

The 2018 scholarship recipients are:

Hannah Moyles (Wake Forest) is the recipient of the Golden Corral Scholarship. She plans to transfer from Wake Technological Community College to East Carolina University.

Ashton English (Weaverville) is the recipient of the Ted Fowler Pursuit of Restaurant Excellence Scholarship. She plans to attend Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte.

Casey Hawkins (Archdale) is the recipient of the Vickie Clark Flaherty Scholarship. She attends Appalachian State University.

Demuzla Bryant Jr. (Raleigh) is the recipient of the Pepsi “Service that Sells” Scholarship. He attends East Carolina University.

Claire Stansky (Kill Devil Hills) is the recipient of the Mary Margaret Traxler Scholarship. She plans to transfer from the College of The Albemarle to Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte.

Nicole Vetti (Roxboro) is the recipient of the Davidson and Jones Scholarship. She attends Appalachian State University.                     

Nathaniel Pennington (Wilson) is one of the recipients of the Jimmy Alfano Scholarship presented by the Angus Barn. He attends Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte.

Jonathan McGregor (Beaufort) is one of the recipients of the Jimmy Alfano Scholarship presented by the Angus Barn. He attends Carteret Community College.

Karly Plemmons (Weaverville) is one of the recipients of the Jimmy Alfano Scholarship presented by the Angus Barn. She plans to attend Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte.

Jake Nelson (Youngsville) is the recipient of the Johnson & Wales University Chancellor Award. He plans to attend Johnson & Wales – Charlotte.                 

Tia Anderson (Durham) is one of the recipients of the William F. Carl Scholarship. She attends the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Patrick Brewer (Rose Hill) is one of the recipients of the William F. Carl Scholarship. He plans to attend Cape Fear Community College.

Brooke Maynor (Southport) is one of the recipients of the William F. Carl Scholarship. She attends Meredith College.

Taylor Pederson (Concord) is one of the recipients of the William F. Carl Scholarship. She attends the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Yasmin Rodriguez (Greensboro) is one of the recipients of the William F. Carl Scholarship. She attends Winston-Salem State University.

Angela Tedder (Raleigh) is one of the recipients of the William F. Carl Scholarship. She attends Appalachian State University.

ProStart teacher Elizabeth Darling of East Lincoln High School in Denver, North Carolina, was awarded the Ted Fowler Grant for the Pursuit of Restaurant Excellence to pursue program development.

Scholarship and grant recipients will be honored at the 2018 Excellence in Education Awards Breakfast on June 18, at the Prestonwood Country Club, prior to NC HEF’s annual Future of Hospitality Golf Classic.

For more information on scholarships or grants distributed by NC HEF, click here. For information or to purchase tickets to the awards breakfast, click here.