Scholarship Applications

The Eddie Dopkin First Course Award Honoring Entrepreneurship in Hospitality

Scholarship opens January 6, 2025, and closes February 14, 2025.

The Eddie Dopkin First Course Award Honoring Entrepreneurship in Hospitality is presented by the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation and Miss Shirley’s Cafe (with locations in Roland Park, Inner Harbor, Annapolis & Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport). Eddie was a longtime restaurateur, caterer, entrepreneur and visionary in Baltimore. He created Miss Shirley’s Cafe which opened the first location on West Cold Spring Lane in 2005 serving award winning Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch and was a Partner in The Classic Catering People as well as owned and operated many other restaurants over his remarkable career.  This scholarship is only available to current students at Morgan State University. ($5,000 scholarship) 

Eligibility Criteria

- Maryland resident

- Must be a current student at Morgan State University or a current student at Polytechnic Institute

- Must be pursuing hospitality-related coursework 

- A minimum cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.0 (High School and College Students Only)  

- A minimum of 800 hours documented industry experience (High School and College Students Only)  

APPLY TODAY 

Michael Birchenall Scholarship Fund

Scholarship opens February 3, 2025, and closes April 13, 2025.

Michael Birchenall was the editor of Foodservice Monthly, a Mid-Atlantic magazine for the hospitality and foodservice industry. He was a man of strong conviction and passion. Among his many attributes, Michael Birchenall is fondly remembered as a man who offered tremendous support, help, and encouragement to young people looking to make careers in the foodservice industry. This competitive scholarship is awarded to students interested in pursuing culinary, foodservice, or hospitality-related coursework. It is available to high school seniors and current college students. ($1,500 scholarship)

Eligibility Criteria

- Resident of Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia or Delaware

- High school senior or college student

- Must be pursuing hospitality-related coursework

- Interviews may be required of finalists

APPLY TODAY

​Letitia B. Carter Scholarship

Scholarship opens February 3, 2025, and closes April 13, 2025.

The Letitia B. Carter Scholarship is presented by the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation in memory of former CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland. This competitive scholarship is awarded to Maryland residents interested in pursuing hospitality-related coursework. It is available to high school students and college students as well as high school, college or corporate instructors and current hospitality industry professionals. ($1,500 scholarship)

Eligibility Criteria

- Maryland resident

- High school senior or college student

- High school, college or corporate instructor

- Hospitality industry professional

- Must be pursuing hospitality-related coursework

- Interviews may be required of finalists

- A minimum cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.0 (High School and College Students Only)

- A minimum of 400 hours documented industry experience (High School and College Students Only)

- A minimum of 1500 hours documented industry experience (Instructors, Teachers and Industry Applicants only)

APPLY TODAY

​Marcia S. Harris Legacy Fund Scholarship

Scholarship opens February 3, 2025, and closes April 13, 2025.

The Marcia S. Harris Legacy Fund Scholarship is presented by the Restaurant Association of Maryland in memory of Marcia S. Harris former CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland for more than 20 years. Marcia had a love for life and a love for the foodservice industry that stood out even in the largest crowds. Her passion and dedication to promoting, protecting and improving the foodservice industry is what drove her day in and day out. Applicants should also possess the qualities of passion and dedication and have a strong desire to improve the foodservice industry through the personal pursuit of professionalism. ($1,500 scholarship)

Eligibility Criteria

- Maryland resident

- High school senior

- College student

- High school or post-secondary instructor who teaches culinary arts or hospitality management courses

- Must be pursuing hospitality-related coursework

- Interviews may be required of finalists

APPLY TODAY

Eddison Hermond Memorial Scholarship Fund

Scholarship opens February 3, 2025, and closes April 13, 2025.

The Eddison Hermond Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by The Restaurant Association of Maryland and the Victoria Restaurant Group to honor the life of Eddie Hermond. Eddie, a longtime manager of Victoria Gastro Pub, Manor Hill Tavern and active member of the Maryland National Guard, lost his life in the 2018 flood in Ellicott City while trying to save the life of another. Eddie lived to serve and he died serving.

This competitive scholarship is awarded to students interested in pursuing culinary, food service, or hospitality-related coursework. It is available to high school seniors and current college students. ($1,000 - $2,500 scholarship pool) Learn more

Other Scholarship Opportunities:
BIC Educational Foundation

The RAM Education Foundation and Maryland ProStart are proud to partner with BIC Educational Foundation. BIC Educational Foundation was established in 2015, utilizing funds from Baltimore International College (BIC), a culinary and hospitality management school that operated from 1972-2012.
​The BIC Educational Foundation offers the BIC Scholarship to exemplary students studying culinary arts and hospitality in Baltimore. In partnership with Stratford University, and other local institutions, the BIC Scholarship provides generous awards to students who have demonstrated excellence in their academic programs and resilience despite personal challenges.

National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF)

NRAEF provides several scholarship opportunities for students pursuing degrees related to the restaurant and foodservice industry. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 to $10,000.
The ProStart Passport is produced by the NRAEF every year, so ProStart students have the opportunity to explore some of the scholarships available to them from Colleges and Universities across the county.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NRAEF SCHOLARSHIPS

Congratulations to the 2024 RAMEF Scholarship Recipients!