Colorado Prostart Scholarships

Serving Up Scholarships

If you are interested in a rewarding career in the restaurant and foodservice industry, we offer a variety of merit-based scholarships to students who want an education and a career in the foodservice industry.

Since before we were officially formed, the Colorado Restaurant Foundation has been supporting the industry’s educational and workforce needs by offering high school career exploration and training programs and scholarships. The CRF, in partnership with the NRAEF, annually awards scholarships to qualified students in foodservice and hospitality management programs. Applicants must have demonstrated a strong interest in the foodservice/hospitality industry as evidenced by documented work experience in the industry.

Applications for CO ProStart and Undergraduate Scholarships Are Now Open!
Applications are now open for the CO ProStart and undergraduate scholarships. As a reminder, these scholarships are for students enrolling in foodservice/hospitality-related programs at accredited post-secondary institutions/programs here in the state of Colorado. The deadline is April 20, 2021, and scholarship recipients will be announced in May.

2021 Scholarships - Apply Here:

2021 ProStart Scholarship
2021 Undergrad Scholarship

CRF Scholarships Include:

ProStart® Scholarships

NRAEF and T. Kevin McNicholas Foundation Outstanding ProStart® Student - $1,000
T. Kevin McNicholas Foundation Industry Achievement Scholarship - $2,000
Jim Rogers Memorial Scholarship - $1,500
Terry Vantiger Scholarship - $1,500
Chili's Grill & Bar Business Scholarship - $1,000
ProStart® Industry Achievement & TKM Scholarship - $1,500
ProStart® Student of the Year &Sysco Denver Scholarship - $2,000

CRF Post-Secondary Scholarships

Epicurean Culinary Group Scholarship - $2,000
Seattle Fish Company Scholarship - $1,000
Logan Yoke Memorial Scholarship - $1,500
Mick Laurita Memorial Scholarship - $1,000
T. Kevin McNicholas Foundation Scholarship - $1,000
Weil Family Foundation Scholarships - $1,500 and $4,000
CRA Mile High Chapter Scholarships - $1,000
ZUUS Dynamic Scheduling - $5,000

NRAEF Scholarships

The NRAEF partners with leading organizations and individuals in the industry to offer scholarships out of our first-time freshman and undergraduate application pools. Take a look at the variety of scholarships available and the diverse range of career paths you can take in the restaurant industry – the possibilities are endless.

For more information on NRAEF Scholarships, click here.

ProStart® Scholarships

If you are a ProStart® alumni, you do not have to fill out a separate application. Please include a copy of your certificate(s) in your application. The scholarship selection judges will consider your achievement in earning this certificate as part of the overall evaluation of your scholarship application packet.

Please Note: If you are applying for more than one scholarship, you will need to submit only one official transcript to cover all of your applications.

Scholarship Contributors

Since its inception in 1987, the CRF has awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships. Thank you to all of our generous contributors for supporting the future of the foodservice and hospitality industry. Contributors to the Colorado Restaurant Foundation Scholarship program include:

• National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
• Kevin McNicholas, KM Concessions
• Weil Family Foundation
• Chili's Grill & Bar
• Epicurean Culinary Group
• Johnson & Wales University
• Sysco Denver Foodservice
• Seattle Fish Company
• Metro Denver Hotel Association
• Terri Vantiger
• ZUUS Dynamic Scheduling 
• CRA Mile High Chapter
• CRA Durango Chapter
• CRA Summit County Chapter
• CRA Pikes Peak Chapter