Three Catoosa county high school students from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold high schools received $1,000 each in college scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga (RMHC). The students celebrated their commitment to academic achievement and community service at an award luncheon held recently at Brainerd United Methodist Church in Chattanooga.

The freshman-year scholarship recipients are Yong Ho Chun, Megan Cromer, and Anna Dougherty. Chun, a graduate of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, will attend Georgia Tech in the fall. Cromer, a graduate of Ringgold High School, will attend Clemson University in the fall. Dougherty, a graduate of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, will attend Dal-ton State College in the fall.

Students were selected to receive an RMHC scholarship based on their grade-point aver-ages, community involvement, letters of recommendation and financial need. As part of the selection process, students also undergo interviews by a committee of local volunteers. The scholarship funds can be used towards tuition or expenses at the college or university of the recipient’s choice.

Scholarships are jointly funded by grants from the global Ronald McDonald House Chari-ties and the fundraising efforts of local McDonald's owner/operators and corporate staff. Since the program began in 2002, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga has awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarship funds to high school students who reside in the Tennessee Valley and surrounding areas.

Students of all backgrounds are eligible to apply for the Ronald McDonald House Chari-ties Scholarship Program. To apply, students must be high school seniors, be eligible to attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full course of study, reside in a par-ticipating local Chapter's geographic area and submit a completed application and all re-quired documentation by the proposed deadline. For more information about the RMHC scholarship program, visit www.rmhchattanooga.com.