Dirona & Nraef Award $24,000 In Scholarships

The Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) and its Award-winning restaurants are best known for divine dishes, fine wines and elegant dining. But many are unaware that since 1987, DiRoNA and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) have awarded over $250,000 in scholarships to more than 135 deserving students pursuing restaurant and foodservice careers. That tradition was continued this year at the 14th Annual DiRoNA/NRAEF Scholarship Luncheon May 24 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Chicago as 12 more outstanding students were awarded $2,000 scholarships.

"DiRoNA was established over a decade ago to preserve and promote fine dining," stated Larry Work, DiRoNA chairman and president of Sam and Harry's Management Company, operator of two DiRoNA award-winning restaurants, Sam & Harry's and The Caucus Room in Washington, DC. "There have been many changes and initiatives since then but one commitment hasn't changed; DiRoNA's dedication to the NRAEF and DiRoNA's support of the young talent in our industry."

The Scholarships were given in the name of American Express Company, Coca-Cola Foodservice and Hospitality, E & J Gallo Winery, Johnson and Wales University, JohnsonDiversey, Starbucks Coffee Company, Food Arts Magazine, Nation's Restaurant News and past DiRoNA Chairman, David E. Stockman of Lawry's Restaurants in Pasadena, CA. "As an important part of its continuing support of the restaurant and foodservice industry, DiRoNA believes that it is essential to support our future workforce through the NRAEF's Scholarship program," said Mary Adolf, NRAEF president and chief operating officer.

Adolf and past DiRoNA Chairman Bert Cutino presented scholarships to five of the twelve students that were able to attend the luncheon: Daniel Hutchinson, Columbus State Community College; Michelle Reinhart, Ohio State University; Heather Cornell, Western Illinois University; Jose Fontanez, Illinois Institute of Arts in Chicago; and Joshua Berg, Western Wisconsin Technical College. The other seven 2005 recipients are: Jeffery Carter, Richland Community College; Jason Gallant, Humber School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; John Jenda, Cuyahoga Community College; Lindsay Kinateder, Johnson and Wales University; Sam Santandrea, Stratford Chefs School, Stratford, Ontario, Canada; Carla Sawyer, Purdue University; and Kristen Tara, Humber School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Undergraduate students preparing for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry with at least 750 hours of working experience are encouraged to apply for the scholarships. Information on the program is available online at www.dirona.org and www.nraef.org.

Note to Editors: To download photos, visit http://www.kellencompany.com/DiRoNA/

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About DiRoNA
DiRoNA was established in 1990 to promote the fine dining industry. This non-profit organization conducts independent restaurant inspections and offers the only fine-dining guarantee in North America. The DiRoNA Award of Excellence is bestowed upon only the most distinguished fine dining establishments. To be eligible, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership, for a minimum of three years. The rigorous 75-point inspection process scrutinizes every aspect of the dining experiencefood, wine, service, physical property and dicor. To date, nearly 800 restaurants have received the DiRoNA Award. For more information on DiRoNA, visit www.dirona.org.

About the NRAEF
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. As the nation's largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the America