Rachael Ray Offers Scholarships

Author and daytime host Rachael Ray has cooked up a contest to offer one $25,000 and three $5,000 scholarships to four high-school juniors and seniors who are seeking careers in culinary arts or restaurant management.

Recipe for success: Ray and her Yum-o! organization, longtime supporters of our National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, have introduced “Cook Your Way to Culinary School,” a contest featuring a grand prize of up to $25,000 for tuition and other related expenses as well as an assortment of the chef’s branded cookware. The three runners-up will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and Rachael Ray merchandise.

Distribution and administration of the scholarship prizes will be coordinated with the NRAEF’s assistance.

Cook up a chance to win: To enter the contest, students must submit a video of themselves preparing an original recipe and an explanation of why they think they should win. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 4.

Ray said her organization focuses primarily on three aspects: to cook, feed and fund. “We fund education with the help of our wonderful partners of over a decade, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. They help us give scholarships to deserving kids.”

The importance of training: One of the NRAEF’s largest initiatives is ProStart, a national, two-year high-school career and technical education program that teaches teenagers culinary and management skills. Today, more than 140,000 students are enrolled in the program, which is offered in 1,800 schools in all 50 states.

Rob Gifford, executive vice president of the NRAEF, said the foundation is excited to support Ray and the new contest. “Sharing this contest with our ProStart students will give us a great opportunity to develop the future of the restaurant and foodservice industry.”

Click here for a chance to win and full contest rules. 

Find out more about the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation