CRAEF awards more than $66,000 in undergraduate scholarships

(SACRAMENTO, Sept. 19, 2011) – The California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF), in partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and other supporting organizations, has awarded more than $66,000 in scholarships to 18 California undergraduate students studying fields related to the culinary and hospitality management industry.

“We are so pleased to support these students who are the future of the restaurant industry,” CRAEF Executive Director Alycia Harshfield. “We look forward to hearing about their accomplishments as they pursue a higher education and the meaningful careers they aspire to have.”

CRAEF scholarship recipients have gone on to train and work in some of the country’s most acclaimed restaurant companies, as well as opening their own successful businesses.

“I am always so impressed with the caliber of the ProStart students we have the opportunity to meet through the scholarship interview process,” said Michael Hawkins, co-owner of Green Street in Pasadena and chairman of the CRAEF Scholarship Committee.

Several local restaurant companies have contributed to award funds for specific populations of students, including Los Angeles-based Norms Restaurants, which established its own scholarship for driven Southern California students in 2010.

“I want to own a five star restaurant specializing in a Mexican-French cuisine,” said Maria Razo-Ayon of Bell Gardens, one of two recipients of the 2011 Norms Restaurants Scholarship. The financial support from Norms and CRAEF has helped Razo-Ayon begin her four-year degree this month at Johnson and Wales University in Denver.

A complete list of awarded students include:

  • Luke Fischer of Newport Beach, who received the CRA Orange County chapter, CRA Building, Mark A. Giovanini and NRAEF awards. Fischer attends Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

  • Leonardo Cazares of Paramount, who received the Michael Dariotis, CRA Board, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Cazares attends California State University, Long Beach.

  • Aimee Caplen of Long Beach, who received the Chapters General, Arthur Wynne and NRAEF awards. Caplen attends Boston University.

  • Jutarat Pagdeerugeerat of Palm Desert, who received the Chapters General, Arthur Wynne and NRAEF awards. Pagdeerugeeratattends California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

  • Amber Baker of Los Banos, who received the San Diego chapter/Thomas N. Fat, Chapters General, CRA Building and NRAEF awards.Baker attends San Diego State University.

  • Marvin Lopez of Los Angeles, who received the Los Angeles chapter, Mark A. Giovanini, Norms Restaurants, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Lopez attends Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I.

  • Sevada Armen of Burbank, who received the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, CRA Board and NRAEF awards. Armen attends the Art Institute, Hollywood

  • Taylor Fry of La Canada, who received the American Express, CRA Building and NRAEFawards. Fry attends California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

  • Lauren Morales of Santa Monica, who received the Milla O. Naylor, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Morales attends California State University, Long Beach.

  • Maria Razo-Ayon of Bell Gardens, who received the Norms Restaurants, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Razo-Ayon attends Johnson and Wales University in Denver.

  • Maya Albert of La Jolla, who received the RolfLewis, CRA Building and NRAEF awards.Albert attends the University of San Francisco.

  • Kirk Bullock of Pomona, who received the ArthurWynne, Don and Dolly Karcher and NRAEF awards. Bullock attendsCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

  • Alyssa Van De Vort of Pacific Grove, who received the Balestreri & Cutino, Monterey chapter, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Van De Vort attends the New England Culinary Institute.

  • Lindsey Hersh of Chico, who received the Fresno chapter, Central Valley chapter, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Hersh attends Johnson and Wales University in Chico.

  • Tanner Hord of Chico, who received the Kieran Collins “KC” Burke, North State chapter and NRAEF awards. Hord attends Butte College in Chico.

  • Lucia Ruiz of San Francisco, who received the Sacramento chapter, North State chapter, RARE and NRAEF awards. Ruiz attends San Francisco State University.

  • Brittanie Martinez of El Cayon, who received the CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Martinez attends San Diego State University.

  • Leina Mori of San Diego, who received the CRA Board, CRA Building and NRAEF awards. Mori attends San Diego State University.