The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) will be presenting $79,000 in scholarships during the 2006 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show®, held May 20-23, at McCormick Place in Chicago, to exceptional high school seniors, undergraduate students and educators pursuing careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. The majority of the scholarship awards will be presented during Salute to ExcellenceSM, an event hosted by the National Restaurant Association and the NRAEF on Saturday, May 20, at the Hilton Chicago.

“Salute to Excellence honors the best and brightest of our industry’s future workforce and we are excited to aid their educational endeavors,” said Mary M. Adolf, NRAEF president and Chief Operating Officer. “As the cornerstone of career and employment opportunities, it is imperative that our industry recruits individuals who exhibit a true passion and talent for the restaurant and foodservice industry.”

The following organizations will be presenting scholarships at Salute to Excellence:

  • The Coca-Cola Company will award two $5,000 scholarships to student honor delegates during the Salute to Excellence Michael E. Hurst Student Forum;
  • Golden Corral Corporation will award the $5,000 James H. Maynard “Excellence in Education” Awards to two deserving ProStart educators during the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala and Banquet;
  • The Al Schuman Entrepreneurial Scholarship will award a total of $25,000 to six undergraduate and high school students at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala and Banquet; and
  • The Robert E. Rich, Sr. Chairman’s Award Scholarship will award a total of $10,000 to four undergraduate students at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala and Banquet.

During the NRA Show, the NRAEF, in partnership with the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), will also present $24,000 total in scholarships at their annual scholarship luncheon on Tuesday, May 23, at Lawry’s Steakhouse. The scholarships will be awarded to twelve undergraduate and high school students, nine from the United States and three from Canada.

To support the projected growth of the restaurant and foodservice industry, our industry must attract a qualified and educated workforce. The NRAEF is committed to an approach of risk management, recruitment and retention as a means to guide the industry into the future. Scholarships to deserving high school and undergraduate students provide an opportunity to recruit these talented students that will be the leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, scholarships awarded to leading educators enable them to build upon their skills and ensure that students receive the education necessary to prepare them for their careers.

Celebrating its 87th year, the National Restaurant Association’s annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in North and South America. Each year, the Show serves as the industry’s premier international marketplace attracting more than 2,000 exhibiting companies and 73,000+ attendees from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

For the latest information, please visit the Show website at www.restaurant.org/show/.

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