Louisiana Restaurant Association Scholarships

The purpose of the LRAEF Scholars program is to provide funds to advance the continuing post-secondary and graduate education of qualified individuals pursuing a career in the culinary and/or hospitality industry.  Scholarship awards are merit-based and may vary based on available funds. The LRAEF reserves the right to make exceptions based on any applicant's unique circumstances. Payments will be made directly to the educational institution after confirmation of the student's full-time enrollment is received. Funds may be used for tuition, books, fees, room, and board.  Funds are awarded for one school year cycle (fall–spring). Students must reapply each year to be considered for a scholarship in the next cycle.

AWARDS:

The 2026 LRAEF Scholars awards are listed below. Applicants will only need to submit one application for any of the following scholarships based on eligibility criteria established by the LRAEF Scholars Committee:  

• Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Scholars: The highest awards given, these prestigious $5,000 awards will be given to four qualified Louisiana students who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to pursuing a career in the restaurant, foodservice, tourism, or hospitality industry. ProStart students who completed the Certificate of Achievement will be given highest priority.
• Jim Funk Scholarship: (One) The LRAEF’s highly regarded award honoring the contributions of longtime LRA CEO Jim Funk, who founded the LRAEF.
• LRAEF Scholars:  Awarded to qualified Louisiana students who intend to pursue a career in the restaurant, foodservice, tourism, or hospitality industry.
• Louisiana Seafood Scholarship: Established through a generous gift from the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board, this $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a qualified applicant who expresses an interest in cultivating, protecting, and promoting Louisiana seafood.  
  Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism
• Management Scholarship: A partnership between the LRAEF and the Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans (UNO), this up to $ 5,000 award is given to incoming and continuing students pursuing a Master of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at UNO.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Undergraduate applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate (bachelor/associate) or graduate degree program for at least two (2) consecutive semesters/terms reflecting a full school schedule (as defined by the school the student is attending). Courses of study can include but are not limited to culinary, hospitality & tourism, business, culinary/FACS teaching degree, or management programs to pursue a career in the restaurant, foodservice, tourism, or hospitality industry and teaching culinary education. Funds cannot be utilized for certificate programs. Applicants selected as scholarship recipients must be full-time students. Full-time is defined as being enrolled in at least 12 hours or the equivalent defined by the school the student is attending. The student must have currently attained and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 while participating in the LRAEF Scholars program (any award) throughout the school year.
• Graduate student applicants must be accepted or currently enrolled in the Master of Science program in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans. Applicants selected as scholarship recipients must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 hours per semester or the equivalent defined by UNO. The student must have currently attained and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 while participating in the Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management Scholarship throughout the school year.
• Students must be a Louisiana high school graduate (or current LA high school senior) and/or a college student attending a Louisiana culinary or hospitality program.