30 years ago, the Donald Quinn Scholarship Fund, the precursor to the current Colorado Restaurant Foundation, began providing scholarships to individuals desiring to enter and become professionals in the foodservice industry. During those 30 years the Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million in scholarship funds, and $8 million in support of the Colorado ProStart Program.
During the recent CRF 30th Anniversary Celebration and Scholarship Awards event, the foundation awarded $38,000 in scholarships to graduating Colorado ProStart® and post-secondary students.
Weil Family Foundation
Claire Cavigilia - University of Denver, $2,000
Ian Milby - Johnson Wales University, $2,000
Mikayla Riggs - Johnson Wales University, $2,000
Mario Talavera - Johnson Wales University, $2,000
Epicurean Culinary Group Scholarship
Victoria Sonora - American Culinary Federation, $2,000
Logan Yoke Memorial Scholarship
Derek Irick - Colorado Mesa University, $1,000
CRA Mile High Chapter Scholarship
Lindsey Byron - Colorado State University, $1,000
Mick Laurita Memorial Scholarship
Caitlyn Baylie - Johnson Wales University, $2,000
John Johnson - American Culinary Federation, $2,000
Fernando Saldivar - Colorado Mountain College, $2,000
Seattle Fish Company Scholarship
Lindsay McEwan - Johnson Wales University, $1,000
TKM Foundation
Hussein Muya - Colorado Western University, $1,000
Daniel Molina - Colorado Mountain College, $1,000
Adolfo Becerra, Battle Mountain High School
Emily Bell, Summit High School
Logan Benavidez, St. Vrain Career Development Center
Meghan Bittner, Grandview High School
Mallory Brown, Coronado High School
Daisy Even, Central High School
Natalie Gaul, Smoky Hill High School
Ryan Hancock, Early College High School & Career Pathways
Heidi Lewis Millard, Aspen High School
Diana Morales, Gateway High School
Isabel Rossi, Woodland Park
Hunter Scharrer, Adams 12 - Five Star Schools
Matthias Sedillo, Mountain View High School
Mauricio Sosa, YouthEntity
Mary Stupski, ThunderRidge High School
Courtney Tinius, Broomfield High School
2017 Student of the Year
Grace Dant, ThunderRidge High School
2017 ProStart Industry Achievement Award
Lorenzo Patti, Summit High School
Al and Dorothy Jarrell Scholarship
Carrie Hager, Broomfield High School, $1,000
Anastasia Reindel, Adams 12 - Five Star Schools, $1,000
Mick Laurita Memorial Scholarship
Jessica Hagen, Broomfield High School, $1,000
Ethan St. George, Northridge High School, $1,000
Italco Food Products Scholarship
Kristina Armijo-Martinez, Grandview High School, $1,000
Joseph Vigil-Medina, Central High School, $1,000
Jim Rogers Memorial Scholarship
Laura Wagner, Woodland Park, $1,000
Teacher of the Year
Andrea Aragon, Early College High School & Career Pathways
Mentor of the Year
Patrick Swetnam, Executive Chef at Guard and Grace, Mentor to Smoky Hill High School
Flame of Excellence Award
Sue Kruger, ProStart Consultant and former ProStart Teacher
Reaching for the Stars Fritz Knoebel Award
Donna Erlewine, Broomfield High School