A New Goal

After an invocation by Presidential Scholar Rebecca Doyle ’26 and a first-class dinner, Davis announced an ambitious new University-wide effort to permanently endow the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund by raising an additional $7 million for the fund by the 2026 President’s Medal Gala, which would bring its lifetime total up to $30 million.

“In 2002, The University of Scranton embarked upon a marathon endeavor when it held its first award dinner in support of the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund,” said Father Marina in a video announcing the initiative. “We are only $7 million away from securing the future of The Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund and ensuring that our Presidential Scholars will continue to thrive at the University forever.

“Help us write the ending this 25-year marathon deserves.”

Thanks to the generosity of the fund’s supporters, the University has currently raised $2.7 million in gifts and commitments toward that goal. To support Presidential Scholarships at the University, visit this link.

After remarking upon the impact Rose has had upon Scranton, Marina spoke of the University’s past, present and future.

“Our University exists and advances because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said. “It is that simple, it is that profound. We are in the business of changing lives through a model of education that we very proudly and with no apology call ‘Catholic and Jesuit,’ and nothing will ever distract us from our noble mission of forming men and women for others.”

About the Honoree

A native of Minersville, Rose dreamed of owning a restaurant at a young age. He began his career by driving a beer truck for his father’s beer distributorship and graduated from the University in 1965 with a bachelor’s in accounting.

After graduating, Rose joined Marriott Corporation’s finance training program and went on to build a 20-year career with the company. He held key roles in property management, legal, real estate and finance, ultimately serving as chief financial officer of Roy Rogers, the fast-food chain Marriott launched in 1968. Rose was later promoted to vice president of the Mid-Atlantic region, where he spearheaded the growth of Roy Rogers from 27 to 156 locations in less than two and a half years.

In 1985, Rose founded H.T. Rose Enterprises, Inc. and never looked back. The Rose Group became a restaurant management company that encompasses all the restaurant concepts he has owned and operated over the course of his franchising career, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar, Boston Market, Corner Bakery Café, The Shannon Rose, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant and Roy Rogers. The Rose Group currently owns and operates 55 Applebee’s Grill + Bar Restaurants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. In 2024, the Restaurant Finance Monitor ranked The Rose Group as the 109th largest restaurant franchise company in the United States, and the company currently has more than 3,000 active employees.

To see more photos from the event, visit this link.