Founded in 2004 in Washington, DC, Educated Eats (501(c)3) advocates for the value of employment through the restaurant and foodservice industry and is committed to creating the next generation of culinary professionals.

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ProStart, Educated Eats' high school culinary program, was relaunched in Washington, DC in 2016.  

ProStart trains students academically in the classroom and experientially on the job. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart®’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-life experience opportunities and builds practical skills and a foundation that will last a lifetime. ProStart students are also provided with the chance to compete at the National ProStart Invitational, the country’s premier secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts.

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The Educated Eats scholarship program was designed to assist individuals, in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, the restaurant industry. Scholarships are provided to both high school students pursuing a course of undergraduate culinary study, as well as to those already active in the restaurant industry who are interested in opportunities to return to school to refresh and deepen their skill set. 

 

Past scholarship recipients have gone on to graduate at the top of their classes at some of the nation’s finest culinary schools like the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales.

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This scholarship was named after Frans Hagen, a passionate advocate for food service workforce readiness programs. He was a Culinary Agent Consultant and Founder of the RAMW Education Foundation. As Program Director of the RAMW Education Foundation, he was responsible for building public and private partnerships in hospitality and culinary arts and developing career education programs in In Washington, DC Metropolitan Area high schools and academies. He passed away in 2016, at age 80, but will always be remembered for his dedication and passion towards culinary education. He has and will continue to positively impact education across the region and beyond.