Eastern N.C. June 4, 2015 – Fifteen Eastern North Carolina-area students have been 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 a number of students from across the state that received college scholarships from RMHC of NC and local McDonald’s franchisees.

All scholarship recipients will be recognized at an awards reception on Thursday, June 4 at The Resource Center inside the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at Vidant Medical Center at 4 p.m. in Greenville.

“Each year, I am impressed by the applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to furthering their education," said Greenville-area McDonald’s Owner/Operator, Wade Dixon. "It’s an honor to reward these 15 students these scholarships. Through programs like this and other local education-based initiatives, McDonald’s owner/operators in Eastern N.C. are committed to supporting our students' pursuits of their higher education goals.”

The five 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 RMHC Scholars are:

Grant Rosensteel, Holly Ridge, N.C. Erick Aguilar, Mount Olive, N.C.

Christian Rust, New Bern, N.C. Maxine Ford, Greenville, N.C.

Zenora Saelua, Jacksonville, N.C.

In addition to the RMHC Scholars, ten local McDonald’s employees were awarded with $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 Ray Kroc Scholarship recipients include:

Terrianna Singletary, Havelock, N.C. Melenis Lopez, Greenville, N.C.

Dalaney Daggett, Havelock, N.C. Jenna Sutton, Greenville, N.C.

Jawan Stewart, Trenton, N.C. Keiwon Mewborn, Kinston, N.C.

Leanna Wilkins, Mt. Olive, N.C. Quanesha Whitley, Kenly, N.C.

Savannah Eason, Pikesville, N.C. Cianci Glaspie, Pikesville, N.C.

About RMHC of NC

RMHC of NC is committed to the health and well-being of children. From the six 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. RMHC of NC, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is based in Raleigh, NC, and is governed by a board of directors comprised of business, civic leaders, and McDonald's representatives.

About McDonald’s

McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with over 35,000 locations serving approximately 70 million customers in over 100 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women.