Since its inception in 2009, the LRA Education Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million through its Scholarship Fund. To further educate ProStart® students, culinary/hospitality students, industry employees, and educators, this financial support has created an annual class of LRAEF Scholars. These Scholars have chosen the culinary and/or hospitality fields as a career choice or wish to continue to work in the industry. With this financial support, Scholars have access to post- secondary education in the culinary and/or hospitality fields or special certificate programs for educators or industry professionals. The scholarships are awarded for one-time financial assistance.
The LRAEF awards five types of scholarships each year. Preference is given to those students who hold the ProStart Certificate of Achievement.
- Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Scholars: The highest awards given, these prestigious $5,000 awards are 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 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.
2026 LRAEF Scholars
The LRAEF Board of Directors, through its Scholarship Fund, awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 17 students during the March 6 event, Serving the Future - Celebrating Careers in Hospitality presented by BRG Hospitality.
This year marks the second year of the Raising Cane's Scholarships, valued at $5,000 each. The 2026 Raising Cane's Scholars are:
- Gabriel Salgado, John Ehret High School
- Isabella Russell, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
- Johnathan Bush, Drexel University
- Olivia Jarreau, Nicholls State University
2026 LRAEF Scholars
- Aaliyah Robinson, John Ehret High School
- Adyson Doty, Chalmette High School
- Angel Loving, Independence High School
- Christopher Polito, Nicholls State University
- Jailah Joseph, East Ascension High School
- Ja’lynn Lamark, Chalmette High School
- Jayce Tillman, Nicholls State University
- Victoria Dozar, Albany High School
- Melissa Webb, University of New Orleans
- Trevor Dieudonne, California Polytechnic University
2026 Distinguished Scholars
- Jim Funk Scholarship: Evangeline Vang, Ponchatoula High School, will attend Delgado Community College.
- Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management Scholarship: Taralyn Stephens, University of New Orleans
- Louisiana Seafood Scholarship: Payge Oller, Louisiana State University