National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation JumpStart grant helps connect students to the industry in a hands-on, immersive Show experience

Washington, DC – October 13, 2026 – Starting today, ProStart® schools from across the country can apply for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation JumpStart grant. The award supports one team’s travel to the 2027 National Restaurant Association Show, May 22-25, 2027, in Chicago, and can be used for travel, accommodations, participation fees, and up to $2,500 in additional expenses for up to 12 students and three chaperones. The grant is open to current ProStart schools. Applications are due November 13.

The JumpStart program connects ProStart students with industry leaders, highlights cutting-edge innovations, and showcases real-world career pathways through hands-on learning at the industry’s annual trade show. The experience provides a unique opportunity for students to actively engage with the full scope of the restaurant industry and discover career paths they may not have previously considered.

Students from the program’s first two teams say the experience turned exposure into clarity about where they fit and how they want to grow within the industry. They also said:

Direct experience with the Show moved them from interest to enthusiasm—strengthening their belief in the restaurant industry as a long-term career path.

Seeing the full industry ecosystem—from culinarians to technologists—expanded their awareness beyond traditional industry roles and revealed unexpected career pathways.

Hands-on, in-person interaction with operators, brands, and innovators created meaningful connections that inspired and motivated them to see themselves in the industry.

“Those moments when students begin to see themselves in the industry are where career pathways take shape,” said Dr. Monica Parrish Trent, Executive Director of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “Immersive experiences like JumpStart help young people move from curiosity to confidence by connecting classroom learning with the people and possibilities that define this industry. We encourage every ProStart school ready to open new doors for its students to apply and help them JumpStart their career journeys in an industry where they can build lifelong careers and long-term success.”

Launched in 2025, the JumpStart grant is open only to current ProStart program schools. Students must be current ProStart students and 16 years of age or older at the time of the event. The winning school will have demonstrated how this opportunity will have a positive impact on their ProStart students and how it will help launch and support their careers in the industry.

Learn more about the grant or start an application here.

About ProStart

ProStart®, a nationwide, two-year high school career and technical education program uniting the classroom and restaurant industry, reaches nearly 222,000 students at almost 2,200 high schools throughout all states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. ProStart gives students a platform to discover and develop new interests and talents, while teaching employability skills like teamwork, professional behavior, time management and communication.

About The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation 

As the supporting philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF’s charitable mission includes enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development, and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower, and Advance today and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community based organizations to provide people with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org. Click here for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s 2025 Annual Impact Report.

CONTACT:

Vanessa Sink
vsink@restaurant.org