Chicagoland Hooters Restaurants Presents Breaking Barriers and Building Legacies
Hooters awards $4,000 in scholarships at Leo High School
In honor of Black History Month, Hooters Restaurants presented “Breaking Barriers and Building Legacies: Celebrating Black Brilliance and Achievement” in partnership with Leo High School in Chicago. Each week during the month of February, guest speakers discussed their inspiring journey to excellence followed by a question-and-answer segment. LaRoyce Hawkins — actor, stand-up comedian, and spoken word artist that stars on NBC hit drama “Chicago, P.D.,” Community leader and Brand Ambassador for Hood Development — was the guest speaker to help wrap up the monthlong program on February 28.
LaRoyce joined several Chicagoland area Hooters representatives including Steve Clement (Chief Operating Officer), Andrea Hill (Director of Operations), Lisa Allen (Director of Operations) Stephanie Martinez (Marketing Manager), Lissette Miranda (Joliet Hooters), Juliana Enzo (Lansing Hooters), Jennah Atwan (Oak Lawn Hooters) and Ashley Rosales (Downers Grove Hooters) at Leo High School.
Each week as part of the program, representatives from the Chicagoland area Hooters restaurants awarded a $1,000 college scholarship to a student interested in pursuing a career in the hospitality industry or business management. The scholarship recipients were selected from their essays that were reviewed by a panel from HMC Hospitality Group, which owns and operates Hooters Restaurants in the Chicagoland area. In total $4,000 in scholarships were awarded to Leo High School Seniors KamRon Dove, Kaleb Larry, Keith Smith and Lordan Black.
“It is a divine partnership with divine intention. I remember being the little homie and the good times that I would experience at Hooters would always make me look forward to my future, it made me look forward to my own family. I had a lot of thoughts right there eating the best wings in the world and thinking about my own legacy. Now for me and that brand to be able to galvanize the best energy we can to make sure that we plant that same seed for young minds right now is a powerful full circle opportunity. To set up the next generation of leaders. So, I am honored. It is the least we can do to make sure the next generation of young minds are set up with the same opportunities that everyone else has,” LaRoyce Hawkins said.
Additional guest speakers have included former NBA player Bobby Simmons, President and General Manager of NBCUniversal Kevin Cross and The Law School Mentor.
“I am grateful to be a part of a company who gives back so much to their community and honored to be able to represent hooters in such an amazing way,” said Lissette Miranda who works at Joliet Hooters.
HMC Hospitality Group, founders of the Hooters concept, own and operate 22 Hooters Restaurants in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland and three Hoots locations in Chicagoland. For over 40 years, the Original Hooters group has been known for its World Famous Chicken Wings, fun atmosphere, and legendary service from the iconic Hooters Girl. For more information about HMC Hospitality Group, visit originalhooters.com or follow them at Twitter @originalhooters and Instagram @originalhooters.