Save the DATE! - 2026 IRAEF Scholarship Awards Luncheon on Saturday, July 11, 2026 |  Location: TBA

Since its inception, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has awarded over $3.6 million to deserving Illinois students pursuing degrees in culinary arts and hospitality management at the post-secondary level. 

Please click here to donate a scholarship or contact Jessica Blomquist at jblomquist@illinoisrestaurants.org.

2025-2026 IRAEF Scholarship Application

The 2025-2026 Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship application will be available January 1st, 2026!

Qualifications to Apply:

• Permanent resident of Illinois
• Accepted or plan to apply to an accredited culinary or hospitality school, college, or university
• Enrolled as a full-time or substantial part-time student taking a minimum of 9 credit hours each term
• Major is or will be culinary, restaurant management, foodservice, or another related program
• Scholarship funds are awarded in June/July and sent directly to the institution's financial aid office for disbursement to student awardees.

APPLY HERE!

Application Deadline is Friday, May 1, 2026.

Please contact info@illinoisrestaurants.org with any questions.

2025 IRAEF Scholarship Awards Luncheon

On Saturday, July 12, 2025, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) proudly recognized 48 outstanding high school and college students, awarding a total of$123,000 in scholarships. These awards celebrate young people who have demonstrated dedication to culinary arts or hospitality management through their academic achievements, work experience, and industry involvement.

This year’s scholarship celebration was hosted in person at the stunning International House on the campus of the University of Chicago, generously sponsored by UChicago Dining and Chartwells Higher Education (Compass Group). Guests included scholarship recipients and their families, educators, IRAEF board members, donors, and industry partners.

The program featured an inspiring keynote address from Dr. Christopher Toote, executive director of UChicago Dining, whose powerful message emphasized the impact of career decisions and perseverance. Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association and vice chair of the Foundation, joined in honoring this year’s recipients.

One of the most memorable moments came during the reception, where named scholarship donors personally presented their awards to recipients. These one-on-one introductions fostered meaningful connections with many students and donors planning to continue their mentorship through summer internships, industry networking, and career opportunities. For several, this is just the beginning of a professional journey shaped by the ProStart High School program and the support of Illinois’ vibrant hospitality community.

Honorees received scholarships from:

• Door Dash
• HMSHost
• Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Illinois
• Charlie & Rochelle Trotter Culinary Endowment Scholars
• CSI Coker Service Inc.
• Half Acre
• Top Butcher
• Anton Family
• Areas
• Wintrust
• Employers
• White Castle
• UnitedHealthcare
• Ecolab
• HMC Hospitality Group
• In Memory of Edward W. Sexton Jr.
• Turano Foundation
• Wintrust
• Bradleyworks Sustainable Culinary
• Lou Mitchell’s
• Ritz Carlton Chicago
• Stephen Palmer
• Charles Orloff

This year’s scholarship recipients will attend 13 different colleges and universities – a mix of local community/city colleges, state schools, and private institutions throughout the U.S. Some schools include:

• Auburn University
• College of DuPage
• College of Lake County
• Cornell University
• Culinary Institute of America
• DePaul University
• Eastern Illinois University
• Elgin Community College
• Grand Canyon University
• Johnson & Wales University
• Joliet Junior College
• Kendall College at National Louis University
• Loras College
• Malcolm X College
• Monroe College
• Ohio University
• Moraine Valley Community College
• Northwestern Michigan College
• Purdue University
• Roosevelt University
• Saint Xavier University
• Shepards College
• St. Augustine College
• University of Illinois
• Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute