NCRLA Foundation Hospitality Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Foundation
About This Scholarship
The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Foundation runs a consolidated annual scholarship cycle for hospitality students, distributing $43,500 to 13 students in the most recent round. The 2027-28 applications open November 4, 2026, and close February 26, 2027 — a rare hospitality program with a clean, year-stamped fall-to-winter window.
The slate includes the Jimmy Alfano Scholarship (three awards of $4,000, with restaurant work experience required and a preference for independent-restaurant employees), the $4,000 Lynn Minges Fund for leadership and community impact, the $3,500 William F. Carl Scholarship for children of hospitality employees, two $2,500 LM Restaurants' Family awards for current team members, the $2,000 Pepsi "Service that Sells" award for ProStart students and alumni, and $1,000 awards from Davidson and Jones Hotel and the Mikel Weber fund.
Most awards tie to North Carolina schools or NC hospitality employment, and a 3.0 GPA is the eligibility floor across the program. For students working in NC restaurants and hotels while studying, one application covers the full slate.
Eligibility
- Minimum 3.0 GPA required for eligibility
- Pursuing culinary, hospitality, tourism, or a related program (specific awards target NC community colleges and universities)
- Individual awards carry additional requirements: restaurant work experience (Jimmy Alfano), child of a hospitality employee under age 24 (William F. Carl), 6+ months current employment with LM Restaurants, or ProStart participation (Pepsi Service that Sells)
- Primarily serves North Carolina students and hospitality workers
How To Apply
- Review the individual scholarship requirements at ncrla.org/foundation/grants-scholarships/
- Gather transcripts, employment verification, and references for the awards you qualify for
- Complete the application after it opens November 4, 2026
- Submit by February 26, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to work in a restaurant to qualify?
Not for every award — but the highest-dollar Jimmy Alfano Scholarship requires restaurant employee experience, and the LM Restaurants' Family awards require six months as a current team member. The Davidson and Jones Hotel award is open to rising juniors and seniors in NC hospitality programs.
How much does the foundation award overall?
In the 2026 cycle, $43,500 went to 13 students, with individual awards from $1,000 to $4,000.
When does the application open?
November 4, 2026, with a final deadline of February 26, 2027, for the 2027-28 school year.