For Immediate Release
May 23, 2023
Hospitality association foundation awards nearly $40,000 in scholarships to Pennsylvania students
(Harrisburg, Pa.)—The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (PRLAEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 scholarship awards. This year, the PRLAEF awarded $39,000 to 15 Pennsylvania students who are enrolled in a post-secondary culinary arts or hospitality management program:
- Jordan Aldrich (Philadelphia), Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Savannah Alvarez (Willow Street), Walnut Hill College
- Lindsay Ardle (Downingtown), Penn State University
- Julia Boccella (North Wales), Penn State University
- Drake Bowen (Corry), Penn State University (Michael Barrett Scholarship awardee)
- Hannah Denger (Centre Hall), Penn State University
- Elena Gao (Philadelphia), Drexel University (Richard Kubach Scholarship awardee)
- Janaja Harris (Bethlehem), Northampton Community College
- Kindlelynn McCormick (Gettysburg), Walnut Hill College
- Anna Nannen (Bradford), Temple University
- Haley Pry (West Sunbury), Slippery Rock University
- Chloe Reifer (Wellsboro), Penn State University (DoorDash Scholarship awardee)
- Aaron Rogers (Lake Ariel), Culinary Institute of Arts
- Abigail Sollenberger (Newville), Pennsylvania College of Technology
- • Erin Weber (Pennsburg), Johnson & Wales University (Richard Kubach Scholarship awardee)
“One of the goals of our foundation is to attract, educate, and retain a professional workforce for the hospitality industry,” said Joe Massaro, PRLA president & CEO. “Because of generous donations from endowments, individuals, and corporations, we are pleased that these deserving students can receive financial support to prepare them for careers in the industry.”
The Richard Kubach Scholarship is awarded to students from Philadelphia, Bucks, or Montgomery counties who intend on continuing their post-secondary education in a hospitality field, while the Michael Barrett Scholarship is for students from northwestern Pennsylvania.
DoorDash annually awards one scholarship to a student who is pursuing their post-secondary education in the culinary arts and hospitality sector.
The PRLAEF scholarship program annually provides Pennsylvania students with the opportunity to further their education in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Since the program’s inception in 2006, the PRLAEF has awarded nearly $450,000 in scholarship monies. For more information about the program or its eligibility requirements, please visit prla.org/scholarship.
ABOUT PRLAEF
The PRLA Educational Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, helping to enhance the hospitality industry’s service to the public through education, community engagement, and promotion of career opportunities. The PRLAEF works to attract, develop, and retain a career-oriented professional workforce for the hospitality industry. For more information, please visit prla.org/education.
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