Scholarships for Culinary Art Students

A culinary arts degree can lead to several careers, but acquiring a degree can be expensive. A variety of scholarships are available to students who choose to pursue a degree or certification in the culinary arts. While some are offered nationally, others are limited to students in specific states. Some culinary scholarships are available to students still in high school, while others are limited to college students.

Nationally Available Culinary Scholarships

Several culinary scholarships are available to students nationwide. For example, the International Food Service Executives Association offers scholarship support to culinary art students through the Worthy Goal Scholarship. The Worthy Goal Scholarship is awarded in amounts ranging from $250 to $1,500. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled on a full-time basis. The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences offers scholarship support to culinary art students through the Jewell L. Taylor National Undergraduate Scholarship, available in the amount of $5,000.

State-Specific Culinary Scholarships

Many state associations for culinary arts offer scholarships limited to residents of that state. The Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation, for example, offers a variety of scholarships to Colorado residents interested in a culinary arts career, including CRA Undergraduate Scholarships and the Metro Denver Hotel Association Scholarship. The Illinois Restaurant Association Education Foundation offers scholarships to residents of Illinois who are pursuing a degree in culinary arts on a full-time basis. Many other states have restaurant or hospitality associations; make sure to consider state-specific funding when conducting your scholarship search.

Scholarships for Undergraduates

Many culinary scholarships are given only to students who have already begun undergraduate studies. For instance, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation offers several scholarships to culinary arts students already attending college. The Al Schuman Ecolab First-time Freshman Entrepreneurial Scholarship is available to first-year culinary art students in the amount of $3,500. The Undergraduate Students/ProStart Alumni/Manage First Students scholarship is available to undergraduate culinary students in the amount of $2,500. The Al Schuman Ecolab Undergraduate Entrepreneurial Scholarship is available to undergraduates in amounts ranging from $3,000 to $5,500.

Scholarships for High School Students

Some scholarships are available to high school students planning to enroll in collegiate training in the culinary arts. For instance, the American Culinary Foundation makes scholarship money available to high school students in amounts of up to $2,500. An eligible applicant must be a graduating high school senior with a GPA of 2.5 or better, and must already be accepted into a postsecondary culinary arts program at the time of application. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship for High School/GED Graduate/ProStart Students is available to graduating high school seniors in the amount of $2,500.

References

• American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation: Academic Scholarships
• American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences: Scholarships
• International Food Service Executives Association: Scholarships
• National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: Scholarships
• Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation: Scholarships
• Illinois Restaurant Association Education Foundation: Scholarships