What’s Your Favorite Dessert? Culinary Science Scholarships and More!

Have you ever attended a birthday party where there was no cake? How about shopping at a supermarket with no baked goods section? The fact of the matter is: the world needs bakers, and desserts are in demand year-round.

When you think of the perfect holiday gathering, it can never be complete without sweets- and not just any confection– your favorites! On a scientific level, desserts produce the hormone of happiness, so it’s no wonder that we tend to indulge while celebrating…and it can be tempting to stop at just one slice!

Even if you don’t consider yourself as having a “sweet tooth,” there is still a familiar, warm feeling that comes over you when you taste that one special dessert. Maybe it’s a memory from childhood of your family member making your favorite dessert for family get-togethers. Or maybe taking that bite of a certain candy bar brings you feelings of nostalgia. Connecting taste with memory is a powerful sensation, and maybe that is the secret ingredient to the age-old tradition of serving festive desserts at celebrations.

Have you dreamed of becoming a pastry chef–better known by its French term – pâtissier? If the thought of impressing your guests during the last course of their meal brings you satisfaction, maybe a career in the culinary arts is right for you. The best part is that there are a variety of scholarships available so that you can accomplish your dream of graduating culinary school with little to no debt.

Culinary Science Scholarships

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarships
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 15, 2022
Scholarship Description: Multiple merit-based scholarships are available to students who are pursuing degrees related to the restaurant industry (to include majors within the culinary, hospitality, and food service fields). Hundreds of scholarships are awarded each year, ranging between $2,500 and $10,000. In addition to the general NRAEF scholarships, a number of named leadership scholarships are also available through this application.

American Academy of Chefs (AAC) Scholarship
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Varies
Scholarship Description: The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, with the support of the AAC, offers scholarships annually to exemplary students with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, who are currently accepted to an accredited, post-secondary college, with a major in either culinary or pastry arts, or an ACF registered apprentice, with the career goal of becoming a chef or pastry chef. For more details, please visit the scholarship provider's website.

President Scholarship for Mariano Moreno Culinary Institute
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Varies
Scholarship Description: This scholarship is available for future full-time students who demonstrate financial need at the Mariano Moreno Culinary Institute. Students who are looking to start their career in culinary arts or pastry and baking can earn Certificate and Associate degrees are offered at their campus in Miami. The scholarship will be applied to the tuition balance as part of the student’s financial aid package.