The Brandywine Chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) will give $3,600 in scholarships to four students from Coatesville and West Chester in an awards ceremony at Embassy Suites Hotel Wayne on May 13

The recipients are Mark Schostak of West Chester, who plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in restaurant management at the Culinary Institute of America; Mary Higgins of Coatesville, who will also study baking and pastry arts at the CIA; Keyion Briscoe of West Chester, who plans to study culinary arts at Delaware County Community College; and Tim Fris of West Chester, who is studying hotel and restaurant management at Penn State.

The PRLA Educational Foundation’s scholarship program annually provides Pennsylvania students with the opportunity to further their education in the hospitality industry. The foundation has awarded more than $90,000 in scholarships since it began in 2006. More information about the program is here: www.prla.org/scholarships.

Bill Covaleski, chief executive officer of Victory Brewing Company, is president of the Brandywine chapter.

Covaleski developed a Back to School golf outing as the primary fundraiser for the local scholarship program. The 2014 Back to School golf outing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8 at Applecross Country Club in Downingtown. More information about the golf outing is here: www.prla.org.

Local business sponsors of the 2013 golf outing who helped fund this year’s scholarships were A.J. Blosenski Inc., Alsco, Arway Linen & Uniform Rental, Drexelbrook/Innovative Catering, Ellis Coffee, Fairchild Consulting, Fig West Chester, First Niagara Bank, G & R Mechanical Inc., Gibbons Insurance, Heineken USA, Indian Ridge Provisions, Innovative Catering, Integrity Designs Concepts, Nelbud Services Group Inc., Origlio Beverage, P.J. Whelihan’s, Party Center, Rigg Darlington Group, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, Schorn Construction, Shangy Inc., Singer Equipment, Stephano Slack LLC, Sysco of Philadelphia, The Beacon Group of Companies, The Whip Tavern and Victory Brewing Company.

The Brandywine chapter is one of 18 local PRLA chapters throughout the state and will hold a membership meeting on the evening it presents the scholarships. The organization aims to promote, protect and improve the hospitality industry and lobbies lawmakers in Harrisburg on behalf of member interests. New industry members are welcome. Dues are based on annual sales income.