Los Angeles, CA – Thirty-six outstanding culinary students from Los Angeles County public high schools were awarded scholarships to continue their culinary studies on May 21st, 2018 by Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) at its annual Los Angeles Region Awards Breakfast hosted by the Jonathan Club, L.A.’s premier social club located in Downtown Los Angeles. C-CAP President Karen Brosius, alongside C-CAP Los Angeles Program Director Lisa Fontanesi and Culinary Program Coordinator Gail Carney, awarded over $918,000 in scholarships and opportunities to the students.
These scholarships were awarded to high school seniors to attend local culinary schools and some of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country. Some students also received C-CAP Education Scholarships that help defray the costs of books, supplies, housing, and other expenses while at community college or another culinary school.
During the C-CAP Los Angeles Cooking Competition for Scholarships held on May 18th, 2018, top finalists from 19 high schools representing different surrounding districts competed against the clock with recipes from memory when C-CAP re-created the intensity of a restaurant kitchen at Los Angeles Mission College, for the high school seniors to face off in a savory and sweet cooking challenge. Students were judged by a panel of local esteemed judges on the presentation of their dishes, knife skills, techniques in the kitchen, taste, sanitary food handling, and timeliness.
The C-CAP Cooking Competitions for Scholarships are hosted across the country and are the culmination of the C-CAP high school program for underserved teenagers at risk of leaving high school without a job or college prospects. The C-CAP program offers a wide set of opportunities including exposure to the restaurant/hospitality business, a set of useful life skills, scholarships, and the potential for a fulfilling career in a vibrant industry.
This year’s C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships Top Judges included:
- Tony Salazar, Executive Pastry Chef, Porto’s Bakery & Café
- Matthieu Chamussy, Research and Development Pastry Chef, Porto’s Bakery & Café
- Sandra Cordero, Executive Chef and Owner, Gasolina Café (Woodland Hills), Pancake (Oxnard)
- Jason McClain, Executive Chef, Jonathan Club
- Suzanne Tracht, Executive Chef and Owner, Jar Restaurant, Key Note Speaker at C-CAP Awards Breakfast
- Katteryn Hernandez, Sr. Operations Manager Wolfgang Puck Catering, C-CAP Alumna, Speaker at C-CAP Awards Breakfast
- Kyle Johnson, Executive Chef, Bourbon Steak
- Jonathan Solis, Executive Chef, Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel, C-CAP Alumnus
- Ted Hopson, Executive Chef and Owner, The Bellwether
- Alex Porter, Executive Sous Chef, Jonathan Club
- Della Gossett, Executive Pastry Chef, Spago
- Andrew Gruel, CEO and Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
- Juan Torres, Executive Chef, Manhattan House, C-CAP Alumnus
- Rigo Salas, Executive Chef, SO.PA Palm Springs, C-CAP Alumnus
2018 C-CAP Los Angeles Region High School Senior Awarded Scholarships:
Arroyo High School
Cam’Ron Anderson, Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education Culinary Arts Academy Partial Tuition Scholarship 1 Year Certificate Program ($2,100)
Justin Phan, Eydie & Ed Desser Scholarship ($5,000)
Baldwin Park High School
Angelica Cervantes, The Gourmandise Full-Tuition Pro-Pastry Series 1&2 Scholarship ($2,400)
Dyanne Contreras, Ronald Newburg Foundation Scholarship ($3,000) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($600)
Brandon Guerrero, Diane Mohilef Scholarship ($2,000)
Jennifer Orona, Institute of Culinary Education Full-Tuition Scholarship for the Diploma in Pastry & Baking ($29,225)
Athena Ruiz, Vernon Dowell Memorial Scholarship ($2,500) / Fresh & Ready Food Scholarship ($1,500)
Banning High School
Franki Bellhouse-Garcia, Johnson & Wales Full-Tuition Scholarship for Bachelor’s Degree ($128,364) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($1,500)
Birmingham High School
Ruby Castillo, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($2,000)
Carson High School
Traivona Jordan, Chef Stefanie Kelly Scholarship ($750) /Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($1,500)
Dorsey High School
Monique Malone, Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe College Full-Tuition for a Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship ($55,584) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($500)
Glendale High School
Kelsey Hulguin, Cadarette Scholarship ($15,000) / Gourmandise Full-Tuition Summer Intensive Pro-Pastry Series 1&2 ($1,650)
Joaquin Johnson, Glendale Community College Culinary Arts Department & C-CAP Matching Scholarship ($500) / Ericka Komarck Scholarship ($500) /Mitzie Cutler Scholarship ($1,525)
Golden Valley High School
Elijah Vines, Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom Full-Tuition Scholarship ($2,700)
Granada Hills Charter High School
Erin Borja, Half-Tuition Scholarship to the International Culinary Center Diploma Program ($17,450) / Cadarette Scholarship ($5,000)
Sammantha Pitpit, Academy of Culinary Education Full-Tuition Scholarship ($6,895)
John Muir High School
Mion Pointer, Ronald Newburg Foundation Scholarship ($4,000)
Nathaniel Narbonne High School
Michael Perez, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($2,000)
Monroe High School
Heidi Reyes, Institute of Culinary Education Full-Tuition Scholarship for the Diploma in Restaurant & Hospitality Management ($13,030) / Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($3,000)
Pacifica High School
April Chavez-Betancourt, Culinary Institute of America Full-Tuition Scholarship for the Associate’s Degree Scholarship ($58,760) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($500) / Richard Grausman Scholarship Community College Stipend ($900)
Juan Sarabia-Cota, Ronald Newburg Foundation Scholarship ($5,000)
Eric Karpowich, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($2,500)
Odalys Mena, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($3,000)
Rio Mesa High School
Mireya Rivera Hernandez, Ronald Newburg Foundation Scholarship ($3,000) / Eydie & Ed Desser Scholarship ($1,500)
S.O.C.E.S.
Gregory Amaya, Alice M. Hart/Food for Film Stylists Scholarship ($900) / Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($1,600)
Lukas Araneta, Vernon Dowell Memorial Scholarship ($2,500)
Zachary Collins, Full-Tuition Scholarship to the International Culinary Center, California ($35,990) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($1,000)
Algin Dabu, Institute of Culinary Education Full-Tuition Scholarship for the Diploma in Culinary Arts ($29,360)
Eugene Galapin, Half-Tuition Scholarships to the International Culinary Center Diploma Program ($17,450) / Slapfish Scholarship ($2,500) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($2,500)
San Fernando High School
Jazlyn Corral Botello, Culinary Institute of America Full-Tuition Scholarship for the Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship ($117,520) Richard Grausman Scholarship ($500) / Richard Grausman Scholarship Community College Stipend ($900)
Sylmar High School
Joseph Lopez, Fresh & Ready Foods Scholarship ($1,000) / Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($400) / Richard Grausman Scholarship ($600)
Vasquez High School
Melinda Lewis, Eydie & Ed Desser Scholarship ($2,000)
MariaJose Otero, Art Institute of California- Orange County Full Tuition Scholarship for the Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree ($48,300)
Andrew Rees, The Art Institute of California- Hollywood Full Tuition Scholarship for the Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts ($48,300)
West Ranch High School
Jordan Bullard, Mise en Place Scholarship ($1,000), Elissa & Rick Phillips Scholarship ($1,000)
Y.O.U. High School
Verania Gonzalez, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship for Community College ($2,000)
In addition to the culinary school scholarships awarded, C-CAP awarded C-CAP Alumni Jose Gordillo (’15) from Manual Arts High School and Isabel Castro (’15) from Carson High School, a full-tuition Alumni Scholarship of $99,264 each towards their Bachelor’s Degree in the Culinary Arts at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. In addition, C-CAP awarded Alumni Ismael Cardenas (’09) from Roosevelt High School an Olesay Work Abroad Scholarship for $9,000, Jayro Martinez (’11) from Manual Arts High School an Olesay Work Abroad Scholarship for $4,313 and Krista Mae Alpuerto (’15) from Van Nuys High School was given an Avero Alumni Experience. C-CAP also announced the 2018 Meatless Monday Recipe Contest Los Angeles winner at the ceremony. The scholarship was presented to Graciella Dizon from Narbonne High School for her Mushroom Quartet Farrotto dish. C-CAP high school students from around the country were invited to create an innovative meatless dish. Through the contest, students are introduced to the Meatless Monday public health initiative.
About Careers through Culinary Arts Program: “C-CAP has an incredible system in place that, through education and training, prepares underserved youth for careers in the culinary and hospitality industries. The program is also of great benefit to chefs in our industry who are constantly looking for skilled and motivated employees,” says Marcus Samuelsson, chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author, C-CAP Board Co-Chair.
Founded by Richard Grausman in 1990, C-CAP has since awarded over $53 million in scholarships, provided job training and internships, college and lifetime career support, teacher training and product and equipment donations to classrooms across the country. C-CAP works with over 17,000 students nationwide each year and through C-CAP’s efforts, a large number of students find rewarding careers in the foodservice and hospitality industry. Many alumni, now graduates of top culinary schools, are working in leading restaurants and hotels throughout the country. For the fourth year in a row, C-CAP has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest rating from the nation’s largest evaluator of charities. For more information visit, www.ccapinc.org.
The C-CAP Council Los Angeles Board: Barbara Fairchild Chairperson, Alice Hart, Andy Harris, Art Sezgin, Caryl Chinn, Debbie Schlesinger-Greenwood, Eric Boardman, Gail Carney, Jayne Portnoy, Jennifer Sezgin, Jet Tila, Lisa Fontanesi, Lorri Wressell, Terrie Cooper.
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C-CAP – Careers through Culinary Arts Program
202 West 1st, Suite #6-0410
Los Angeles, CA 90012
T: 213-542-1967
