(TAMPA, Fla. 7/26/22) – In recognition of a distinguished business career and more than a decade of service at Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., Bloomin’ Brands is investing $300,000 to establish a scholarship endowment through the Hillsborough Community College Foundation to honor retired Chairman and CEO and current member of the Board of Directors,
Liz Smith.
“Hillsborough Community College is proud to be receiving this gift in honor of Liz Smith’s tremendous career at Bloomin’ Brands,” said HCC President Ken Atwater. “With both a majority female workforce and student population, this gift supporting the development of female leaders is especially meaningful to our College.”
The gift will fund the Elizabeth Smith Endowed Scholarship and will provide three full annual scholarships to female students for the duration of their studies at HCC. Priority will be given to eligible students with a major in business operations/management and secondarily to those with the greatest financial need.
“I am grateful for this recognition and look forward to following the success of the outstanding HCC students chosen to receive this financial support,” said Smith. “I hope these scholarships will inspire more women to consider a career in the operations side of business, and ultimately result in more female business leaders.”
The scholarships will be awarded in spring 2023 for students beginning their studies in the fall of that same year. Subsequently, they will be awarded every year in that same time frame.
For more information on the Elizabeth Smith Endowed Scholarship, please contact Stephen Shear at sshear2@hccfl.edu or visit hccfoundation.com.
About Hillsborough Community College
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 42,000 students annually at its five campuses and three centers located throughout Tampa Bay. For more information, visit hccfl.edu. HCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Visit hccfl.edu/accreditation for more information.
About Bloomin’ Brands
Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. is one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies in the world with a portfolio of leading differentiated restaurant concepts. The company has four founder-inspired brands: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. The company operates more than 1,450 restaurants in 47 states, Guam and 17 countries, some of which are franchise locations.