Jim Fris (left), chief operating officer of PJW Restaurant Group; Tim Fris; Mary Higgins; Keyion Briscoe; Mark Shastak; and John Longstreet, president & CEO of Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association pose for a photo after the scholarship presentation.

Four aspiring hotel and restaurant stars received a total of $3,600 in scholarships Tuesday night from the Brandywine Chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA).

The presentation, held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Tredyffrin Township, included awards to the following students:

• Keyion Briscoe of West Chester, who will be attending Delaware County Community College to study culinary arts.
• Tim Fris of West Chester, who attends the Pennsylvania State University and is studying hotel and restaurant management.
• Mary Higgins of Coatesville, who is headed to the Culinary Institute of America to study baking and pastry arts.
• Mark Schostak of West Chester, who will be attending the Culinary Institute of America to pursue a bachelor’s in restaurant management.

The PRLA Educational Foundation’s scholarship program annually provides Pennsylvania students with the opportunity to further their education in the hospitality industry. Since the program’s inception in 2006, the foundation has awarded more than $90,000 in scholarship monies. For more information about the program or its eligibility requirements,  visit www.prla.org/scholarships.

Under the leadership of Chapter President Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Company, the Brandywine Chapter developed the Back to School golf outing as its primary fund-raiser for the local scholarship program. The 2014 Back to School golf outing is scheduled for Sept. 8 at Applecross Country Club in Downingtown.  For more information about the golf outing, visit www.prla.org.