RCC Foundation receives $10,000 donation
The RCC Foundation has received a $10,000 donation from the Lumberton Tourism Development Authority (LTDA). LTDA voted to donate the money earlier this week to their annual scholarship which will provide two hospitality students $500 scholarships each semester.
The RCC Foundation was presented with the check today at the Lumberton Visitor’s Bureau.
“This is the second installation to the established scholarship,” said Angela D. Sumner, the Executive Director of the Lumberton Visitors Bureau. “This will promote tourism in our area and grow the hospitality program at RCC, and help sustain our workforce as more hotels and restaurants build in our area.”
Students enrolled in the hospitality management program will be eligible for the scholarship.
“This scholarship will help support students for years to come,” said Sumner. “We are reinvesting in hospitality and strengthening the number of employees we have who will stay in Robeson County and go into the hospitality industry.”
According to the NC Department of Commerce, the food service sector represents 9.27% of jobs in Robeson County, retail accounts for 13.33% of jobs in the county, and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector constitutes a smaller percentage of jobs at .28%, making up almost quarter of all positions.
“Our hospitality students go on to work in our restaurants, hotels, or they start their own business and create more jobs and opportunity for others,” said RCC President Melissa Singler.
“The support of the Lumberton Tourism Development Authority is tremendous and instrumental in ensuring that students have access to education and have the ability to pursue their dreams in the tourism and hospitality industry. We are so thankful for their support and for partnering with us to ensure the future pipeline of chefs, bakers, caterers, event planners, and hotel and restaurant managers…. With a degree in hospitality, the possibilities are endless,” Singler stated.
Jessica Bullard, the director of the RCC Foundation adds, “Our hospitality students are amazing and this scholarship will help to support some of our best and our brightest.”
“We are so grateful for the continued support of the Lumberton Tourism Development Authority and the Lumberton Visitor’s Bureau,” said Bullard. “You will help impact many of our hospitality students through this scholarship and we thank you for this generous donation.”
Members of the LTDA Board include Arnold West, Chair, Arnold’s Restaurant; John Dunlap, UNCP; Brion Oxendine, Realty One Group Heritage; Katie Davis, Huggins, Davis & Associates; Pramit Patel, Best Western; Dan Davis, Hampton Inn; Owen Thomas, City of Lumberton Liaison, Ex-officio; Alisha Armstrong, Finance Director, City of Lumberton, Ex-officio; Angela Sumner, Executive Director, Ex-officio
