Culinary Scholarships

You enjoy cooking and fine food. You have seenCulinary Federation Foundation, offers educational
the reality television shows with the chefsscholarships to high school students beginning to
competing for top chef and find it interesting.seek a culinary or pastry arts degree, college
Whatever it is that gets your attention, you mightstudents currently seeking a culinary or pastry
find yourself interested in going to school to learnarts degree, professional chefs already working in
the art of culinary delights.the culinary industry looking to further their
Although there aren’t a lot of scholarshipseducation or get certified, and student culinary
available for culinary education, there also isn’tteams currently competing at ACF regional
a lot of competition, making your odds ofconferences or national convention.
receiving a scholarship better.2. Les Dames d'Escoffier - Les Dames d'Escoffier
So where do you look for culinary scholarshipis a leadership culinary organization composed of
opportunities?women who have not only achieved success in
If you are still in high school, start with yourtheir profession, but who contribute significantly to
Guidance Counselors to see what kinds of culinarytheir communities. Since its incorporation 25 years
scholarships and awards they know about, locally,ago, Les Dames d'Escoffier has followed its
regionally and nationally. Very often, the highmission to elevate the profession through
schools themselves offer monetary rewards formentoring members and helping worthy students
good students, or the most dedicated from clubssucceed in their culinary careers. I am very proud
and activities, which could include a cooking, hometo be a member."
economics or vocational club. If not, at least, they3. Women Chefs & Restaurateurs - The mission
should be able to steer you toward other sourcesof Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR) is to
because keeping track of that stuff is part ofpromote and enhance the education,
their job.advancement and connection of women in the
Most culinary institutes and university culinaryculinary industry. Since WCR was founded in 1993,
programs offer scholarships to students attendingthe association has offered unique scholarship and
their schools, either directly through the school orinternship opportunities to its members.
through business, benefactors and foundations4. Institute of Food Technologists - Professionals
that support the school. Many schools also offerin the field improve the availability, nutrition, and
them to students planning to attend.safety of the world’s food supply. They bring
Check out the bulletin board on campus forscientific and technological innovation to an
schools such as:increasingly global marketplace. They give back to
* The Art Institutesthe community through teaching and leadership.
* The Culinary Institute of AmericaThis organization offers numerous scholarships in
* Pennsylvania College of Technologyvarious fields of the food industry.
* University of Nevada, Las Vegas5. National Restaurant Association - The National
These kinds of scholarships are definitely theRestaurant Association Educational Foundation
easiest to find out about, but somehow(NRAEF) encourages and supports senior high
overlooked by a great many students who couldschool students, GED graduates, undergraduate
benefit greatly from the funding… and from thestudents, ProStart COA, and educators who are
prestige of winning!committed to furthering their education and
Professional Culinary Organizationsenhancing their careers in the restaurant and
By definition, professional organizations arefoodservice industry by awarding scholarships
designed to promote their profession. In largethrough its Scholarships.
part, that entails the development of future6. International Cake Exploration Societé - CES
professionals, and scholarships are a great waypromotes the art of cake decorating by awarding
for them to promote that.one or more annual scholarships to applicants
Going directly to National and Regional culinarydeemed most likely to develop and promote the
institutes is of course the next course of action.art form.
Here are some samples:If you live in the following states, try these
1. American Academy of Chefs - The Americanregional programs.
Academy of Chefs, through the American