IRAEF awards $64k in scholarships

The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) awarded more than $64,000 to 46 Illinois students to further their education in the foodservice and hospitality industry July 24. The scholarships were awarded at a morning ceremony at Café 300 in Chicago.

Group photo of the 46 scholarship winners and sponsors

Annually, the IRAEF awards scholarships to high school and undergraduate culinary students pursuing post-secondary education in foodservice (culinary) and hospitality management programs, some of whom are ProStart alumni. The IRAEF's Scholarships & Mentoring Initiative has provided more than $1.5 million in scholarships to qualified students since 1973.

Student winners pose with Michael Rotondo (center), chef de cuisine at Charlie Trotter's