Ohio ProStart 2025 Scholarship Application Form

Ohio ProStart Scholarship Program

2025-2026 APPLICATION FOR SCHOLARSHIP
Hospitality Institute of Ohio is pleased to present the 2025-2026 Ohio ProStart Scholarship program to you. Scholarships range from $1000 to $2500 and multiple scholarships can be awarded per student.

Scholarship funds not used by December 31, 2026 will be forfeited.

Eligibility Criteria:
• Applicant is a graduating senior ProStart student.
• Applied for and will earn a Certificate of Achievement (COA). Not all scholarships require a (COA), but many do.
• Be enrolled or accepted as a full-time or substantial part-time student at an accredited post-secondary institution, college or university for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Plan to major in a restaurant, hospitality or foodservice related program.
• Recipients cannot be employees or family members of the National Restaurant Association, NRAEF, or a state restaurant association or foundation (e.g., Hospitality Ohio).
• If awarded scholarship, MUST ATTEND Celebration of the Stars Award luncheon. Location and date to be announced soon.

For your application to be reviewed by the scholarship committee, the following items are required by January 30th, 2026:
1. Completed application form.
2. Transcript from primary high school.
3. Proof of acceptance to an accredited post-secondary culinary arts, foodservice, hospitality or restaurant management program. Note: If application for admission has been filed, but is pending when this scholarship application is submitted, scholarship will be awarded contingent upon acceptance to a qualified culinary arts, hospitality or food management program.
4. TWO letters of recommendation on School or Company letterhead from current or previous teachers, mentors and/or employers.
5. Completed Financial Information and essay.
6. Digital yearbook photo, senior picture or professional headshot. No selfies, please.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANT INFORMATION
Student's Full / Legal Name*

First NameLast Name
Student Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
Student Phone Number*
Include Area Code
Student PERSONAL E-mail (No school emails will be accepted)*
Preferred Pronouns
US Citizen

YesNo

Parent or Guardian Information

Parent or Guardian information will be kept confidential and will only be used for updates and important information regarding Ohio ProStart.
Parent or Guardian One Contact Information
Name*

First NameLast Name
Email*
Parent/guardian email
Phone Number
Include Area Code
Parent or Guardian Two Contact Information
Name

First NameLast Name
Email
example@example.com
Phone Number
Include Area Code
SCHOOL INFORMATION
High School or Career Center attended for Ohio ProStart Program:*
Address of School

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Ohio ProStart Instructor Name:*
Provide instructor's name here.
Expected Graduation Date

MonthDayYear
Date
Are you working to achieve the Certificate of Achievement COA)?*

YesNoUnsure
School to which you have applied and gained acceptance to:*
Provide School Name Here
Anticipated course of study:
Declared major and/or minors

COURSES, ACHIEVEMENTS, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY SERVICE, ACTIVITIES, WORK EXPERIENCE

Please complete each section below. No item is too small to list.
Restaurant, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Related Courses

Please list all restaurant, culinary arts, and hospitality related courses you have successfully completed.
List courses with completion dates.
Honors, Awards and Achievements

Please list all honors, awards and achievements you have earned.
List all honors, awards, achievements.
Organizations and Clubs

Please list the organizations you are a member of and what positions you have held, if any, below.
Are you a ProStart Leader?

YesNo
If yes, what years?
List organizations and offices held
Volunteer and Community Service

Please list the name of organization and the number of hours, weeks and years that you volunteered. If you worked, list the company, hours per week and length of time.
Please provide volunteer and community service information below:
Extracurricular Activities

Please list all extracurricular activities below. Activities include but not limited to sports, clubs, etc.
Provide extracurricular activity information below:
Restaurant and Hospitality Work Experience (paid or unpaid)

Please list all work experience you have had in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality field.
Please list all work experience below:

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION AND ESSAY

The scholarship application requires two responses be submitted. Please follow the instructions below for each.
Financial Information

Minimum Word Count 200
In the space below, please TYPE your response to the following question:

•How would you finance your college education?
•Do you need to work while attending college?
•Are you paying your own way for college?
•Are you taking out student loans?
•Are you a first-generation college student?
Please type your response here.*

0/0

Scholarship Essay Question

Word Count 500-750
In the space below, please TYPE your response to the following question: Consider the following:
- Why should the scholarship selection committee select you?
- How do you exemplify ProStart Core Values listed below?
  - Leadership: Responsible and ethical decision-makers who embody positivity and motivate change.
  - Community: Putting forth our best effort socially, civically and professionally.
  - Passion: Creativity, vision and enthusiasm that drive us beyond the extraordinary.
Please type your response here.*

0/750
OTHER INFORMATION

Please provide any other information you would like the scholarship committee to know to be selected for a scholarship award below:
UPLOAD FILES

Please upload the required files before submitting. Applications submitted without required documents will not be considered.
The following documents must be attached:

1. Transcript from primary high school.

2. Proof of acceptance to an accredited post-secondary culinary arts, foodservice, hospitality or restaurant management program.

3. TWO letters of recommendation on School or Company letterhead from current or previous teachers, mentors and/or employers.

4. Digital yearbook photo, senior picture or professional headshot. No selfies, please.
Browse Files

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VERIFICATION

I hereby certify to the Hospitality Institute of Ohio Scholarship Awards Committee of the Ohio ProStart Scholarship Program that the information contained in this application (including accompanying transcript, letters of recommendation, and proof of acceptance) is complete and accurate and that the responses to the essay questions are the applicant’s own work product.
Signature

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Applications with all required attachments must be submitted on or before January 30, 2026.
Submission Time

MonthDayYearHourMinutesAM/PM Option
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Ohio ProStart Scholarship Program

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANT INFORMATION

Parent or Guardian Information

Parent or Guardian One Contact Information

Parent or Guardian Two Contact Information

SCHOOL INFORMATION

COURSES, ACHIEVEMENTS, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY SERVICE, ACTIVITIES, WORK EXPERIENCE

Restaurant, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Related Courses

Honors, Awards and Achievements

Organizations and Clubs

Volunteer and Community Service

Extracurricular Activities

Restaurant and Hospitality Work Experience (paid or unpaid)

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION AND ESSAY

Financial Information

Scholarship Essay Question

OTHER INFORMATION

UPLOAD FILES

VERIFICATION