One of our favorite fast food chains known for its signature clown and catchy jingles has been making a huge impact in our local communities in the lives of youth through education. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston and The McDonald’s Owner/Operators Association of Greater Houston once again honored a bevy of high school seniors with academic scholarships at an award ceremony and scholarship luncheon for the 2017 recipients.

For 26 years the Black McDonald’s Owner/Operators Association have been providing scholarships for local African American high school seniors to help them attend college. This year 25 students received scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each along with their very own Kindle Fire tablet which will be used by students at universities this fall such as Princeton University, Cornell University, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Before the ceremony began, guests and scholarship recipients were able to mix and mingle and even take pictures with Mr. Ronald McDonald himself. The room was decorated with nice roses as centerpieces, an official Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston photo backdrop, and a live DJ to help set the tone for a fun filled experience.

“I take this as a very personal experience. I myself am a father of six children, all of whom are college graduates, but because of my economic standards growing up I was very poor and was not afforded the opportunity to attend college. So I take this initiative to make sure all black students have the opportunity to seek a higher education with some funding seriously,“ said Dave Moss, President, Black McDonald’s Owner/Operators Association of Greater Houston.

Adding to the importance of this scholarly affair that was emceed by Fox 26’s Melinda Spaulding was Johnathan Miles, General Manager of McDonald’s. Miles, who is also a University of Houston alum, spoke to the recipients about “readiness” and how with attending college you have to be ready for every obstacle that comes your way. He told students that they need to be mentality ready so that they can persevere no matter what.

“I think it’s always important to give back to the community and its one of those things that you should do no matter where you come from or where you’re at and with RMHC that’s what it does. It gives back to the communities which is very important,” said Johnathan Miles.

Following the keynote address, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner made a guest appearance to congratulate the recipients and speak about his college experience. He shared why he believes education is so important, especially in the lives of African Americans. “Stay in your lane, decide who you are, and then give it everything you’ve got” were some of the most powerful and inspiring words that Mayor Turner spoke during his speech and that really stuck with the recipients.

A majority of the scholarship recipients were first generation college students who would not be able to attend college without the help of scholarships. To receive the scholarship students had to meet a long list of requirements such as have one parent of African American or Black Caribbean heritage, be a high school senior, and show a record of academic excellence.

“This scholarship means a lot to me, I don’t have many resources so for the judges to see potential in me and give me a chance to attend a four-year college is amazing. I am so thankful and I’m thanking God every day for this opportunity,” said scholarship recipient Davion Zeno. The Heights High School senior will attend the University of Virginia and has plans on majoring in engineering to become an environmental engineer.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities provides many other scholarships besides the African American Achievers scholarships. RMHC®/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER®) recognizes students of Hispanic heritage; RMHC®/Asian-Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement (ASIA) recognizes high school seniors of Asian Pacific Heritage and RMHC® Scholars recognizes high school seniors of all heritages. Together the RMHC® of Greater Houston/Galveston with the MOAGH awarded 85 high school seniors with prestigious RMHC® US Scholarships for their outstanding community involvement and academic performance. The purpose of the different scholarships and programs is to be able to afford minorities in lower income communities the chance to attend a university while providing financial assistance. Every year, RMHC® of Greater Houston/Galveston and MOAGH distribute nearly $200,000 in scholarships to area high school students. To date, RMHC® has granted more than $48 million in scholarships to students in the United States and more than $3 million to students in the Greater Houston area.

To keep up with upcoming events and programs keep up with the Black McDonald’s Owner/Operators Association at www.bmoahouston.com and follow the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston on Instagram at @rmhcghg.