US Foods Holding Corp. announced the newest class of culinary students receiving US Foods Scholars awards. Eight students from cities across the country were each awarded a scholarship of up to $20,000 to help them pursue an education in the culinary arts and enter the restaurant industry. The new scholars will also receive learning and development opportunities with US Foods culinary professionals throughout the school year.
The US Foods Scholars program was developed to help tackle the ongoing talent shortage facing the restaurant industry by providing financial support and culinary training opportunities for deserving students who require assistance to complete the next step of their culinary journey.
“It’s been an honor to watch the program expand with ambitious and talented students,” said Debra Ceffalio, vice president of corporate communications, US Foods. “We know finding highly skilled talent is a challenge for independent restaurant operators, and that is why our support of the next generation of culinary talent is so important to our organization and our customers. US Foods Scholars are well-poised for success in the industry, and we are excited to support their achievements.”
The eight recipients are:
Christian Oliver, a first-year culinary arts and entrepreneurship student at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas.
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Destiny Barfield, a first-year culinary arts student at the Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga.
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Frauntashia Perry, a first-year baking and pastry arts student at the Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga.
Hometown: Carson, Calif.
Grace Aguilar, a first-year culinary and pastry arts student at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas.
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Hannah Smith, a first-year baking, pastry and culinary arts student at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C.
Hometown: Bear Creek, N.C.
Jessie Burns, a first-year baking, pastry, and hospitality and food service management student at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colo.
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Karla Jimenez, a first-year culinary arts student at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C.
Hometown: Garner, N.C.
Nicolas Eberspacher, a first-year culinary arts, foodservice, and food and beverage management student at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colo.
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
“It is such an honor, and I’m extremely thankful to be part of the US Foods Scholars program,” said Hannah Smith, 2019 US Foods Scholar and culinary student at Wake Technical Community College. “I had no idea that following a passion of mine could lead me to where it has today. This opportunity can open so many doors and will allow me to continue pursuing degrees in culinary, baking and pastry arts.”
All US Foods scholarship recipients are selected through an 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 and the American Culinary Federation, to help facilitate applications and select scholarship recipients.
