Texas Restaurant Foundation Announces over $45,000 in Scholarships

Texas Restaurant Foundation Announces Over $45,000 in Scholarships - Investing in Tomorrow's Culinary and Hospitality Leaders

AUSTIN, TX (June 27, 2025) - The Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) is proud to announce the recipients of its prestigious statewide scholarships for 2025. These awards recognize exceptional students pursuing careers in culinary arts, restaurant management, and hospitality leadership - supporting the next generation of industry innovators, leaders, and changemakers.

This year, TRF awarded scholarships through five signature programs:

Raising Cane's Chicken Finger Scholarship -
Dedicated to empowering students committed to excellence, teamwork, and customer service in restaurant management, this scholarship supports both high school seniors and current college students. The 2025 Raising Cane's winners are:

• Christina Renee Davis - University of New Orleans
• Caleb Josiah Gonzales - Johnson and Wales University
• Madelynn Boyd - Culinary Institute of America (Texas)
• Grider Allen - Culinary Institute of America (San Antonio)

Chef Willy O. Rossel Scholarship -
Honoring the legacy of renowned Chef Willy Otto Rossel, this scholarship celebrates culinary excellence and mentorship. The 2025 recipients are:

• Alexia Soto - Culinary Institute of America (San Antonio)
• Christina Davis- University of New Orleans

W. Price Jr. Memorial Scholarship -
Named for the Texas Restaurant Association's first executive director, this award honors students with a growing passion for foodservice. Winners include:

• Ava Curry - Culinary Institute of America
• Donovan Ramos - Culinary Institute of America
• Isabella Medina - Austin Community College
• Kealy Garcia - Culinary Institute of America (San Antonio)

Creed Ford III Memorial Scholarship - In memory of hospitality leader Creed Ford III, this scholarship supports future leaders in the industry. The 2025 winners are:

• Alexia Soto - Culinary Institute of America (San Antonio)
• Donovan Ramos - Culinary Institute of America
• Emma Wu - Purdue University

"Supporting these talented students is at the heart of what we do," said Heather Pickett, Executive Director of the Texas Restaurant Foundation. "Each recipient represents the future of hospitality - passionate, dedicated, and ready to make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond."

The Texas Restaurant Foundation congratulates all winners and thanks its generous scholarship partners for investing in the dreams and futures of these aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals.

Founded in 1995 as the charitable arm of the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) is dedicated to building and strengthening the future of the restaurant industry through education, workforce development, and scholarships. TRF oversees Texas ProStart, a premier culinary and restaurant management training program reaching over 27,000 high school students in 260+ schools statewide. The foundation also leads industry-driven initiatives such as the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, which has provided millions in crisis support, and innovative workforce development programs that connect businesses with trained, job-ready talent. These include Second Chances, which helps justice-involved individuals reenter the workforce, and specialized training initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Since its founding, TRF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals. Join us in shaping the future of hospitality-learn more at www.txrestauant.org/foundation