Creed Ford III Memorial Scholarship Application

Scholarship Sponsored by Texas Restaurant Association

Welcome to the Texas Restaurant Association and Texas Restaurant Foundation Legacy Scholarship application. Complete the online form in full — answer every question and fill every field. If a question does not apply, enter N/A. Eligibility - Residency: Must be a Texas resident (attendance at an out-of-state school is permitted). - Program: Enrolled in a degree program in foodservice or hospitality. - Enrollment status: Registered full-time (12 credit hours or more); at least 3 credit hours per semester must be in foodservice or hospitality management. - ProStart participation: Must have participated in your high school’s ProStart culinary arts program. - Grade requirements: Overall minimum GPA of 2.75 and a major GPA of 3.5. (High school seniors: minimum GPA 2.75.) - Industry intent: Applicants should demonstrate potential to be an asset to the foodservice industry; personal goals and career objectives should reflect this. - Proof of enrollment: Recipients must provide enrollment verification showing hours after the last drop date each semester before scholarship funds are released. Ineligible - Previous scholarship winners are not eligible to receive this award again. - College seniors in their final semester are not eligible. - Awards will not be paid for summer terms. Required Documents All items below must be uploaded by the deadline (see Deadlines). Late or missing materials will result in disqualification. - Official transcript from your current high school or college/university. - College applicants must submit transcripts covering at least the previous two academic years. First-year college applicants must also include high school transcripts. - Signed letters of recommendation: - One letter from a current or former employer — on official company letterhead and with the signer’s signature placed over the envelope seal. - One letter from a school official (high school, culinary academy, or college/university) — on official school letterhead and with the signer’s signature placed over the envelope seal. - Acceptable recommenders include a current/previous employer, an educator, or a school counselor. Evaluation Criteria Applications are reviewed and scored by the scholarship committee using the following factors: - Spelling and punctuation - Grade point average and ACT/SAT results - Class ranking (for high school seniors only) - Honors and community involvement - Essay responses - Strength and relevance of references - Industry-related work experience - Length of foodservice employment (1–5 years) Essays You must submit two essays (each 500 words or less): 1) Explain why you are applying for this scholarship and how it will impact your education and career. Include your philosophy of the foodservice industry and your professional goals. 2) Describe how you intend to give back to your local community through your work as a restaurant or foodservice professional. Optional Video After completing the essays, you may include a brief video (optional) that showcases your personality, hobbies, or achievements. If you provide a video, either upload the file or include a link (for example, YouTube). Record in landscape orientation and limit the video to under two minutes. Deadlines and Disqualification - All applications, letters of reference, and transcripts must be uploaded by the April due date. Materials submitted after this date will not be accepted. - Applicants will be disqualified for missing the deadline, failing to meet stated requirements, or not following application instructions. If you have questions about required documents or the submission process, contact the scholarship administrator before the deadline. Good luck.