Houlton’s McLaughlin receives culinary scholarship

Courtney McLaughlin of Houlton was one of three to receive a culinary scholarship from the Maine Beverage Company.
    The Maine Restaurant Association held their fourth annual scholarship luncheon on June 16 at the downtown Freeport Hilton Garden Inn. The luncheon was sponsored by the New England Coffee Company and PFG-NorthCenter.
McLaughlin will begin her culinary training at Washington County Community College in the fall.
“Our scholarship recipients this year brought impressive accomplishments and dreams to the table,” said Mike Carney, MeRA education foundation president. “This year, we awarded students who demonstrated their commitment to have successful careers in the field. From a working mother to a ‘first-in-the-family’ student seeking higher education, we salute each Maine student’s dedication and determination to make their own dreams a reality in the culinary profession.”
Since 1985, MeRA has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in financial aid to several dozen culinary students from across the Pine Tree State. This year, $10,000 was awarded through the MeRA Education Foundation with the generous contributions of several Maine businesses.