2026-2027 NCRLA Foundation Scholarship Application

You can save your progress anytime by using the Save & Continue button. This will email you a link that can be used to re-access your form later. You must answer all questions in all six sections and upload your supporting documents by 11:59pm on March 6, 2026. If you have questions or encounter any issues while completing this application, please email foundation@ncrla.org

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Contact Information

Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Current Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Are you a permanent resident of North Carolina?(Required)

Yes

Will you be under 24 years of age on March 6, 2026?(Required)

Yes

Which scholarship(s) are you applying for?

Please ensure that you meet the qualifications based on the descriptions below, or visit ncrla.org/foundation/grants-scholarships for more information.

Davidson and Jones Hotel Corporate Scholarship-rising college junior or senior enrolled in a four-year culinary, hospitality, or related program in North Carolina.

Jimmy Alfano Scholarship-requires experience as a restaurant employee, with preference given to independent restaurant experience or a strong desire to work in an independent restaurant.

LM Restaurants’ Family Foundation Scholarship-to support current LM Restaurants team members

Lynn Minges Scholarship Fund-for students with demonstrated passion for hospitality, tourism, and community impact

Mikel Weber Scholarship-for students furthering education in pursuit of a career in hospitality

Pepsi “Service that Sells” Scholarship-for ProStart students and Alumni

William F. Carl Scholarship-for children of employees in hospitality–student must be under 24 years of age.

Academic Details

Are you a ProStart student or alumni?(Required)

Yes

Not sure

At what school did you participate in ProStart?(Required)

High School Graduation Year(Required)

Anticipated college graduation year(Required)

Please list academic and school honors/awards you have received. Indicate the name of the award and any special criteria required to receive the award.(Required)

What school do you plan to attend in Fall 2026?(Required)

Is the college you plan to attend in Fall 2026 in North Carolina?(Required)

Yes

What will your college grade level be during the 2026-2027 academic year?(Required)

Please describe(Required)

Please enter your college student ID if available. Otherwise, enter N/A(Required)

What type of degree program are you enrolled in?(Required)

Please describe(Required)

Which of these best describes the major or degree program you are pursuing in post-secondary study?(Required)

Please describe(Required)

Please list school activities you have participated in including dates, type of activity, and any leadership roles you took on while participating in that activity.(Required)

Hospitality Connections

Do you have a parent who works in a restaurant, for a restaurant corporate office, or for a hospitality related company?(Required)

Yes

What restaurant, corporate office, or hospitality related company does your parent work for?(Required)

Do you currently work at a restaurant?(Required)

Yes

Have you worked at a restaurant in the past?(Required)

Yes

Are you a current LM Restaurants Team Member?(Required)

Please select the option below that best describes you:(Required)

I have worked for LM Restaurants for 6 consecutive months.

I have a minimum of 6 months of seasonal employment with LM Restaurants

I have less than 6 months of employment history with LM Restaurants

I have never worked for LM Restaurants

Please select the LM Restaurant you currently or most recently worked at:(Required)

If you do not work at any of these restaurants, please select “None of the Above”

Work and Volunteer Experience

Please list PAID work experience from the past 4 years. Please be sure to highlight any relevant restaurant/hospitality experience.(Required)

Identify the location, dates you worked there, job titles and any duties you had that might need additional explanation. (For example, you do not need to elaborate on a “host” or “server”. These are obvious.)

Please list any volunteer and/or community service experiences you have had during the past 4 years.(Required)

List the dates, type of service and briefly describe your experience.

Essay Questions

Briefly describe your short term and long term career goals.(Required)

500 maximum characters. Please be detailed in your description.

Hospitality leaders must be ready for the challenges of tomorrow. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the industry in the next 10 years, and what innovative strategy would you take to ensure the industry remains strong and sustainable?(Required)

Please enter approximately 250 words. We want to hear your unique perspective in your own words. Please do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write your response—applications that do will not be considered.

To what do you attribute the biggest success in your life?(Required)

500 maximum characters

Briefly describe why you applied for a scholarship from the NCRLA Foundation.(Required)

500 maximum characters

Required Files

Please upload the required documents.

Current Transcript(Required)

Please upload a PDF of your current transcript (less than 5MB total). Applications without a transcript will not be considered. Certified transcripts are not required.

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.

Photograph(Required)

Please upload a professional photograph, preferably a headshot, for use on the NCRLA website and other publications. Please upload files that are a max of 5MB.

Max. file size: 5 MB.

Signature

Your digital signature confirms that you understand the NCRLA Foundation will use your information to determine scholarship awards. By typing your name below, you affirm that all information in this application is accurate. You also grant permission for the NCRLA Foundation to share your application materials (including transcripts) with scholarship selection committees and to use the photo you uploaded in promotional materials related to NCRLA Scholarships.(Required)

Please type your name here to agree.

2026-2027 NCRLA Foundation Scholarship Application