Five Students Will use 2021 Awards to Learn about Franchising
Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Titus Center for Franchising, which is located in West Palm Beach, Fla., has announced that five of its students have been awarded $2,500 scholarships. The scholarship recipients are studying in the university’s Rinker School of Business with a concentration in franchising. All of the students posted a minimum 3.0 grade point average and adhere to the school’s core values, which include community service. Here’s a look at the award-winning students:
The J.J. Prendamano Endowed Scholarship went to Umberto Rosi, Palm Beach Atlantic Class of 2022; he studies management and franchising. This scholarship is named for J.J. Prendamano, who was general manager at United Franchise Group for 25-plus years.
The Seiber Family Endowed Scholarship recipient is Eva Bacciale. When in the Class of 2020, she earned a degree in marketing, accounting and franchising. As a member of the school’s Class of 2021, Bacciale has pursued a master’s degree in business administration. Geoff Seiber, CEO and founder of FranFund, and his wife, Sherri, FranFund’s chief operating officer, established the scholarship to help students achieve their dreams.
The Don Dwyer Sr. Endowed Scholarship has been given to Micah Droescher, Class of 2023, who is studying marketing and franchising. Droescher recently signed an agreement as a franchisee of The Patch Boys. The late Don Dwyer established The Dwyer Group (now known as Neighborly); his family established a scholarship in his name for students of the Titus Center.
The Chick-fil-A West Palm Beach Franchise Scholarship winner is Mitchell Nolan, Class of 2022; Nolan is studying international business and franchising and also serves as vice president of sales at OperandiFi. Rob Morris, a franchisee of Chick-fil-A in West Palm Beach, established the scholarship to provide ongoing financial assistance to students at the Titus Center.
The Kobel Family Endowed Scholarship went to Kyle Foster, Class of 2021, who studies marketing and franchising. He’s an intern at Retro Fitness and the Titus Center for Franchising. Ed and Becky Kobel established this scholarship to empower the next generation of young leaders.
Said John P. Hayes, director of the Titus Center for Franchising and the Titus Chair for Franchise Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University: “We are extremely proud of our students and blessed by the five sponsors of these scholarships for 2021. The competition for these scholarships was fierce. We could have used another five scholarships at least to give to qualified students.”
Scholarship recipients were recognized Nov. 17 during a meeting of the Titus Center’s advisory board on campus. Last year, the Titus Center awarded its first-ever three scholarships. Founded in 2017, the Titus Center for Franchising resides within the Rinker School of Business at Palm Beach Atlantic University. It’s a unique center in that students complete 12 credit hours to earn a concentration in franchising as part of a business degree in marketing or management. The center was endowed by franchisor Ray Titus, founder and CEO of United Franchise Group, who gave the university $1.5 million. The center’s mission is to educate people about franchising and prepare them for careers in the franchise industry.