Gerald Owens Emcees for McDonalds Charities

FOX50’s Gerald Owens individually presented scholarship to the recipients.

Owens poses for a group photo with the seventeen deserving high school seniors.

WRAL-TV & FOX50 Anchor Gerald Owens emceed the McDonald’s Ronald McDonald House Charities Future Achievers Scholarship Program luncheon Thursday, May 8, 2003, on behalf of FOX50. The luncheon, held at the Crabtree Valley Marriott in Raleigh, also featured the Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER).

Seventeen local high school students and their families were recognized at the luncheon and awarded $1,300 scholarships to help further their education. The local McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, Eastern North Carolina and surrounding areas partnered with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina to offer this annual scholarship program. Now known as the RMHC Future Achievers Scholarship Program, the event celebrates the achievements of African Americans and provides an opportunity for deserving students to receive valuable scholarship funding. The Black History Makers of Tomorrow Scholarship Program transitioned into this present form.

Fourteen African-American high school students were awarded scholarships. The program also expanded to include Hispanic students because of their growing population in the Triangle. The HACER program awarded three Hispanic high school seniors scholarships to further their education this year.

Thanks to FOX50’s Sheila Chast & Susan Mitchell for this capcom story & photo.