Area students receive McDonald's scholarships
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 30, 2012 1:46 PM
Four area students, who also work at McDonald's restaurants, have been awarded $1,000 scholarships by the company.
The Ray Kroc scholarship awards were presented recently to McDonald's employees furthering their secondary education. At a ceremony in Greenville, 16 students from the eastern region were recognized.
Ronald McDonald House Charities and McDonald's award recipients are chosen based on leadership skills, academic success, community involvement, financial need and a personal essay describing how they intend to make a difference in society.
Local students chosen included Dereese Atkinson, Brandyn Espinoza and Julie Howell, all from Goldsboro, and Jule Speight from LaGrange.
All four work for Wade Dixon's McDonald's locations.
Ms. Atkinson, 18, and Speight, 17, are employed at the Kinston restaurant on West Vernon Avenue. She is currently attending Wayne Community College and plans to attend N.C. A&T University in the fall, while he is a student at Goldsboro High School and will attend WCC in the fall.
The others work at the McDonald's on U.S. 70 West in Goldsboro.
Espinoza, 21, is a student at WCC. Ms. Howell, 27, has been attending WCC and will transfer to East Carolina University in the fall.