Ten C-store Employees Receive Jim Yates Scholarships
LAS VEGAS--The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) announced that 10 convenience store employees are recipients of the 2005 NACS Jim Yates Scholarships. The Yates Scholarship program annually recognizes employees in the convenience store industry based on their dedication to achieving excellence in retailing, strong leadership skills at the store level, and persistence in the pursuit of education.
The 2005 Jim Yates Scholarship winners are: Zachary Bluestone (Country Club Car Wash, O’Fallon, Mo.), Catalina Cavazos (Texas Star Investments Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas), Carol Churchill (Sullivan Oil Company, Baton Rouge, La.) Sharon Elliott (Gas America Services Inc., Greenfield, Ind.), Lindsey Gustafson (Honey Farms, Charlton, Mass.), Vicki Harris (Fastrip, Springfield, Mo.) Eric Hoeft (Bobby and Steve’s Autoworld, Minneapolis, Minn.),Gail Ladd (General Equities--dba Foodbag, Lebanon, Conn.), Ryan Williams (E-Z Mart Stores Inc., Texarkana, Texas) and James Wisniewski (Wawa Inc, Wawa, Pa.).
The Yates Scholarship is distributed by NACS in honor of the late Jim Yates, founder of E-Z Mart Stores. Each winner will receive $3,000 for costs of career education-- community college or a four-year college-- and complimentary registration and travel to the NACS Show 2005.
"NACS is pleased to be able to award scholarships to truly outstanding individuals who are working hard to achieve excellence in retailing while persistently pursuing their education," said Jay Ricker, president of Ricker Oil Company and administrator for the Convenience Store Foundation for Education and Research, which oversees the Yates Scholarship Program.
"The convenience store industry offers a compelling employment opportunity. It is full of examples of individuals who developed their skills and rose from sales associate to vice president of the company. These scholarships can help recognize excellence in the industry and assist valued employees in advancing," said Carolyn Schnare, Yates Scholarship program administrator.
To qualify for the scholarships, applicants had to be employed and nominated by a convenience store company that is a NACS member. More than 40 nominations were received for the 2005 scholarship program.
The 2005 Jim Yates Scholarship winners are: Zachary Bluestone (Country Club Car Wash, O’Fallon, Mo.), Catalina Cavazos (Texas Star Investments Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas), Carol Churchill (Sullivan Oil Company, Baton Rouge, La.) Sharon Elliott (Gas America Services Inc., Greenfield, Ind.), Lindsey Gustafson (Honey Farms, Charlton, Mass.), Vicki Harris (Fastrip, Springfield, Mo.) Eric Hoeft (Bobby and Steve’s Autoworld, Minneapolis, Minn.),Gail Ladd (General Equities--dba Foodbag, Lebanon, Conn.), Ryan Williams (E-Z Mart Stores Inc., Texarkana, Texas) and James Wisniewski (Wawa Inc, Wawa, Pa.).
The Yates Scholarship is distributed by NACS in honor of the late Jim Yates, founder of E-Z Mart Stores. Each winner will receive $3,000 for costs of career education-- community college or a four-year college-- and complimentary registration and travel to the NACS Show 2005.
"NACS is pleased to be able to award scholarships to truly outstanding individuals who are working hard to achieve excellence in retailing while persistently pursuing their education," said Jay Ricker, president of Ricker Oil Company and administrator for the Convenience Store Foundation for Education and Research, which oversees the Yates Scholarship Program.
"The convenience store industry offers a compelling employment opportunity. It is full of examples of individuals who developed their skills and rose from sales associate to vice president of the company. These scholarships can help recognize excellence in the industry and assist valued employees in advancing," said Carolyn Schnare, Yates Scholarship program administrator.
To qualify for the scholarships, applicants had to be employed and nominated by a convenience store company that is a NACS member. More than 40 nominations were received for the 2005 scholarship program.