The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation along with its longtime partners Women’s Foodservice Forum and Wendy’s International Inc., honored four outstanding female students at the WFF’s Annual Leadership and Development Conference on April 15, in Orlando, Florida. These students received the 2007 Reaching Your Dream Scholarship for $2,000. These scholarships will help further their education in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

“We are proud to support motivated students such as these four women, especially as the industry is projected to add two million new positions over the next 10 years,” said Mary M. Adolf, president and chief operating officer of the NRAEF. “The WFF Annual Leadership and Development Conference is a perfect place for these women to network with top female executives and make invaluable connections in the industry.”

The four students that were awarded the 2007 Reaching Your Dream Scholarship are:

* Mitzi Lee Hahn

* Alyson Hayes

* Sarah Parker

* Amanda Smythe

The Reaching Your Dream Scholarship was created in honor of Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas and underscores his dedication to supporting a diverse foodservice industry. This annual scholarship is presented to four female college students enrolled in a restaurant or foodservice-related program. To qualify, students must excel academically and express an interest in continuing their education in the industry.

Attending the WFF Annual Leadership Development Conference is an invaluable experience for these women. By participating in workshops and sitting in on panels led by experts in the industry, these students have an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how the industry works.

As the cornerstone of the nation’s economy, it is imperative that the restaurant industry continues to attract talented leaders to support its growth. Through its scholarship programs, the NRAEF provides qualified high school and undergraduate students with access to the leadership strategies and skills they will need as they finish their education and embark on their careers. And three years after receiving an NRAEF scholarship, three out of four NRAEF scholarship recipients are still studying and/or working in the restaurant or foodservice industry.