US Foods Holding Corp. announced the company’s newest US Foods Scholars scholarship recipients. Seven students from four cities across the U.S. were selected to receive up to $20,000 each to support their continued culinary education, in addition to hands-on training opportunities with US Foods culinary professionals. The US Foods Scholars program was developed to inspire students to reach their full potential and contribute a meaningful solution to the talent shortage facing the restaurant industry.
Launched in 2017, US Foods Scholars provides financial support and professional development opportunities to students who have demonstrated outstanding potential and achievement in the culinary arts and require additional resources to take the next step of their journey. The program is currently active in Arizona, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, New York City and Raleigh. With the addition of these seven students, US Foods currently supports 13 students across these markets. The company plans to announce 17 additional scholarships in 2019.
“We are continually impressed by the talent and leadership this group of scholars brings to the table,” says Debra Ceffalio, vice president of corporate communications, US Foods. “In an industry where skilled applicants are increasingly difficult to find, US Foods is proud to support the next generation of culinary professionals and help them reach their career goals.”
The seven recipients are:
- Angel’o Hill, a culinary arts management student at the Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta. Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
- Destinee Chatman, a baking and pastry student at the Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta. Hometown: Warner Robins, Georgia
- Lillie Hood, a baking and pastry arts student at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. Hometown: Angier, North Carolina
- Amber Fuqua, a hospitality management student at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh.
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Stevani Flahaut, a first-year culinary science student at Austin Community College in Austin. Hometown: Converse, Texas
- Molly Leibbrandt, a culinary arts and food service management student at Johnson & Wales University in Denver.
Hometown: Centennial, Colorado
- Liliana Flores, a first-year baking and pastry and foodservice management student at Johnson & Wales University in Denver.
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
All US Foods Scholars are selected through a formal application process. Each applicant is evaluated based on several criteria, including academic performance, financial need and a personal essay. US Foods is proud to partner with two organizations, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) and the American Culinary Federation (ACF), to help facilitate applications and select scholarship recipients.
