$2,500 - $7,500 scholarship Awards available including:
Weil Family Foundation Scholarship
Two (2) T. Kevin McNicholas Foundation Scholarships - $5,000 (Each)
Knobel Family Scholarship - $4,000
Chris Weil, Kae De Brent Hodges, and FOODMatch Scholarship - $3,500
Mile High Chapter Scholarship - $3,000
Two (2) Fred M. Laurita Scholarships - $2,500 (Each)
DiPasquale Family Foundation Scholarship - $2,500
MIBE Scholarship - $2,500
Swire-Coca Cola Scholarship- $2,500
The Colorado Restaurant Foundation, in partnership with our Scholarship Donors, awards scholarships to qualified students in foodservice/hospitality management programs. Applicants must have demonstrated strong interest in the foodservice/hospitality industry, as evidenced through documentable work experience in the industry. CRF scholarships are merit-based. Demographic information is not used to establish eligibility; financial information collected through this application is for data-collection purposes only and will not impact scholarship award decisions.
Eligibility Criteria:
Note: Any applications which do not meet the following criteria or are not legible will be automatically disqualified.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
- You must plan to use the scholarship in a foodservice/hospitality-related program at an accredited post-secondary institution/program in the state of Colorado.
- You must be enrolled or plan to enroll as a full-time or substantial part-time student, taking a minimum of 9 credit hours each term.
- You must plan to be enrolled for at least two upcoming consecutive semesters.
- You must have at least six months of industry-related work experience.
- Applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be invited to interview with the scholarship committee. An interview is required to be awarded a scholarship.
- Scholarship recipients will be announced in April 2025. Award winners must attend the CRF Scholarship Celebration in February or March 2026.
Please Submit:
- Completed application, indicating "N/A" (not applicable) where appropriate
- Resume (2 pages maximum)
- Transcript from all colleges and universities attended
- 2 letters of recommendation (at least one must be from a current or previous employer)
Application, resume, transcripts, and letters of recommendation can be sent via email or mail to:
Colorado Restaurant Foundation
ATTN: Lexi Nines
430 E. 7th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203-3600
303-830-2972
lnines@corestaurant.org
Judges will score the following:
- Industry-related work experience and/or hospitality-related course work
- Letters of recommendation
- Application essay questions (questions should be answered carefully and clearly)
- 20-minute interview with Scholarship Committee (to be held in April 2025)
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Deadline, award announcement, and payment timeline:
- Application Deadline: Friday, March 14, 2025 – application and transcripts must be postmarked by this date. No exceptions.
- CRF Scholarship Celebration:Award recipients will be notified in April or May 2025. However, CRF will formally celebrate recipients at its annual celebration event in February or March 2026. Additional details will be provided. Your attendance at this event is mandatory if you are a scholarship recipient.
- Funds will be disbursed in two equal payments, the first half in fall 2025 and the second half in spring 2026 upon verification of your continued enrollment in a qualified program.