NHSBBQA Education Foundation - OVERVIEW AND ELIGIBILITY

BBQ Education Foundation

Eligibility & Overview

Expanding Access to Education Through Live-Fire Learning

The NHSBBQA Education Foundation provides educational scholarships to support students pursuing learning pathways connected to barbecue, live-fire cooking, culinary arts, agriculture, hospitality, and Career & Technical Education (CTE).

Our scholarships are designed to remove financial barriers, recognize educational effort and growth, and help students continue developing skills that prepare them for future academic and workforce success.

All scholarships are administered in accordance with IRS regulations, nonprofit governance standards, and objective selection criteria.

Scholarship Overview

Scholarships awarded by the Foundation may support:

• Postsecondary education and training

• Industry certifications and credentials

• Approved educational programs and coursework

• Educational travel and learning experiences

• Instructional tools and educational equipment

Scholarships are educational in nature and are not cash prizes, stipends, or competition payouts.

Who Is Eligible

Applicants must meet the following general eligibility criteria:

Student Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in middle school or high school, or a recent graduate

• Participate in an educational program aligned with the Foundation’s mission

• Demonstrate commitment to learning, skill development, and personal growth

• Be in good academic and disciplinary standing at their school

Additional eligibility requirements may apply based on specific scholarship opportunities.

What We Consider

Scholarship recipients are selected using objective, nondiscriminatory criteria, which may include:

• Educational effort and achievement

• Demonstrated skill development and craftsmanship

• Leadership, character, and responsibility

• Community or school involvement

• Financial need (when applicable)

Participation in competitions, teams, or organizations does not guarantee scholarship selection and is not required unless stated for a specific program.

What Scholarships Do NOT Cover

To maintain compliance with nonprofit regulations, scholarships do not cover:

• Personal living expenses unrelated to education

• Cash awards or stipends

• Payments tied to competition placement or results

• Expenses without a documented educational purpose

Application Cycles & Availability

Scholarships are awarded during scheduled application cycles throughout the year, based on:

• Available funding

• Donor-designated purposes

• Educational alignment

Application deadlines, requirements, and award amounts vary by program.

View Current Scholarships
Apply for a Scholarship

Selection & Oversight

All scholarship applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, with final approval by the Board of Directors.

The Foundation maintains:

• Written scoring rubrics

• Documented review processes

• Clear award acceptance and disbursement policies

This ensures fairness, transparency, and compliance with IRS best practices.

Relationship to NHSBBQA®

The NHSBBQA Education Foundation is a separate legal entity from the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®).

While NHSBBQA® supports educational programming and student engagement, all scholarships are administered solely by the Foundation and are independent of competition participation or results.

Committed to Fairness. Focused on Education. Centered on Students.

The NHSBBQA Education Foundation believes that education should be accessible, meaningful, and transformative. Our scholarship programs are designed to help students move forward—academically, professionally, and personally.

Questions About Eligibility?
If you’re unsure whether a student qualifies, we encourage you to review current scholarship listings or contact the Foundation directly.

Contact the Foundation

NHSBBQA Education Foundation
is the public-facing name of the BBQ Education Foundation,
a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN - 41-2464833 dedicated to advancing
youth culinary education, live-fire learning, and career pathways
through the National High School BBQ Association® ecosystem.

Legal Notice
The NHSBBQA BBQ Education Foundation is a separate legal entity from the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®).
Donations made on this page support the Foundation’s charitable mission and are not payments to NHSBBQA®.