CAFÉ is offering seven awards with cash prizes totaling $7,000 for entrepreneurial spirit, sustainability, commitment to education, community outreach, technology and a Student of the Year recognition. Two awards also include travel expenses to a harvest tour and technology workshop. 

Award applications are being accepted until April 1, 2025. Along with each cash prize, winners also receive a free registration to CAFÉ’s Leadership Conference, held June 23-26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Penn. Winners will be honored at a special award ceremony on June 23, 2025.

The awards are as follows:

Kendall College/National Louis University Entrepreneurship Award - $1,000 prize
The award identifies culinary programs that either teach or encourage entrepreneurship in their programming or implement revenue-generation and cost savings into their operations. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools. Click here for award submission details. 

United Soybean Board Green Award - $1,000 prize
The Green Award is offered to individuals/culinary programs that emphasize sustainability or other “green” aspects in their programs. This award is sponsored by the United Soybean Board which is proud to reach out to educators and to recognize their efforts instructing students in the importance of agriculture in their product selection and menu designs. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools. Click here for award submission details.

Idaho Potato Commission Educator of the Year Award – Two $1,000 prizes
These awards are open to secondary and post-secondary educators as well as culinary educators working within the non-profit training sector. Click here for award submission details.

Idaho Potato Commission Student of the Year Award - $1,000 prize plus an all-expenses-paid trip to the September 2025 Idaho Potato Harvest Tour
This award is open to any student attending a postsecondary school. Click here for award submission details. 

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Community Outreach Award - $1,000 prize
This award is open to culinary/hospitality programs or individuals making a positive impact in their communities via outreach programs such as food banks, recycling efforts, skill development for homeless, etc. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools. Click here for award submission details.

RATIONAL Technology Award - $1,000 prize plus an all-expenses-paid trip to a three-day technology workshop. 
The 2025 Technology Award will be offered to individuals/culinary programs that successfully introduced technology in their programs. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools. Click here for award submission details.

Click here to read about the culinary educators and professionals who were honored in the 2024 award program.