Scholarship honors legacy of ‘The Prince’ of Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington has established the Francis Kobty Scholarship in Hospitality Management, honoring the legacy of beloved Arlington restaurateur Francis Kobty, founder of Prince Lebanese Grill.
Made possible by a generous gift from the Kobty family via the Francis Kobty Foundation, the endowed scholarship will support undergraduate students majoring in hospitality management in UT Arlington’s College of Business.
“We are thrilled to partner with UTA to honor our father, the late Francis Kobty, with a scholarship in hospitality management to help support the next generation of hospitality professionals pursuing their dreams,” the Kobty family said. “Francis lived his life with a strong sense of family, community and hospitality, and turned his American dream into reality when he opened the restaurant in 1989. With this scholarship, we hope to honor his legacy and inspire and empower future Arlington-area hospitality students to achieve their own dreams."
Related: UTA launches two new hospitality management degrees
The scholarship reflects Francis Kobty’s enduring impact on the Arlington community and his lifelong dedication to service and hospitality. Known as “The Prince,” Kobty immigrated to the United States in 1979. Francis and his wife, Amira, built their life together in Arlington, raising four children. Prince Lebanese Grill remains family-owned today.
Celebrating Francis’ legacy has become a community effort. Each year, the Francis Kobty Foundation hosts a scholarship breakfast on Nov. 15—Francis’ birthday—when friends, family and customers give in his memory. Funds raised at the event help establish scholarships like the one at UTA.
Related: Rangers, Loews support UTA’s new hospitality program
“Francis Kobty exemplified the values we aim to instill in our students—passion, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to service,” said Mike Nalley, director of UTA’s hospitality management program. “We are deeply honored by the Kobty family’s gift and excited about the opportunities it will create for our students for years to come.”
UTA will launch new hospitality management degree programs this fall, offering students the option to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management. Both programs are designed to meet the region’s growing workforce needs and provide a strong foundation in business management and leadership.
Coursework will include hotel and restaurant management, accounting, operations, marketing and sales, event planning, business analytics, information technology and more.
Designed to prepare students for careers with both major hospitality brands and small businesses, the new degrees will open doors to a wide range of professional opportunities.
“These programs really speak to students who have a passion for service leadership and for those seeking an entrepreneurial path,” Nalley said. “They are for students who want to be a part of something bigger—or start something of their own and make a difference not only in the region, but around the world.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.