05/20/09 — McDonald's awards four scholarships to area students

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McDonald's awards four scholarships to area students

By Staff Reports
Published in News on May 20, 2009 1:46 PM

Four Wayne County students were among 41 from eastern North Carolina recently recognized with $1,000 college scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina. A total of $150,000 in funding was to be awarded across the state this month to deserving high school and college students.

Recipients were chosen based on leadership skills, academic success, community involvement, financial need and a personal essay describing how the student intends to make a difference in society.

Local McDonald's owners/operators awarded one area senior a $1,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarship for outstanding academic and community achievement. The recipient is Caroline Keen, a senior at Rosewood High School who plans to attend Duke University in the fall.

Three local McDonald's employees were awarded $1,000 Ray A. Kroc Youth Achievement Award scholarships, given to employees furthering their secondary education. They were Randy "Brock" Winders of Pikeville, Brittany Harrell of Fremont and Preston Sharpe of Dudley.

Brock is a student at Wayne Christian School, works at McDonald's in Goldsboro and is in the dual enrollent program at Wayne Community College. He plans to continue his education at WCC or East Carolina University. Brittany currently works at McDonald's in Kenly and attends East Carolina University, where she is studying to be a teacher. Preston works at McDonald's in Mount Olive, attends Wayne Community College and plans to transfer to N.C. State University to study computer engineering.