Each year, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) awards $1 million in scholarships to their community of undergraduate students studying in fields related to the restaurant, hospitality, and food service industry. In 2021, the NRAEF turned to Summit to help turn up the heat on the celebration by gifting a kit filled with branded merch to the scholarship recipients. Using a bold yellow — “because the future of our industry is bright because of you” — on a black background, the contrast surely stands out.

The fresh batch of kits included only the finest ingredients: a ring light for virtual classes and interviews, a Moleskine notebook to take notes and write down brilliant ideas, a packable tote bag to carry the audacity to be so excellent (or groceries), a baseball cap, and the quintessential reusable mask and sanitizer for in-person interactions. The gifts arrived just in time for the 2021 holidays to cheers and toasts on social media.

“Today I received this generous swag box on behalf of the Scholarship and Engagement team. I feel honored and look forward to doing my part to advancing our industry.”

“I am very grateful to be a NRAEF Scholar.”

“I am extremely thankful for being a recipient of the NRAEF scholarship. This just goes to show that hard work pays off and I can keep striving for my bachelor’s degree. Everything I do is for a better future for my daughter… Look at the awesome gifts we received in the mail today!”

“Using the #zoomlight from the #NRAEF welcome packet… so proud to have been selected.”

In addition to the scholarships, which range from $2,500 to $10,000 per recipient, the recipients also received a one-year membership to the Women’s Foodservice Forum to help further their career goals. Now entering its 35th year, the NRAEF has given over $23 million in scholarships to date — now that’s a chunk of cheddar!