“I am delighted and appreciative that student culinarians will now have a new scholarship available to help them in their studies,” said Mark Wright, CEC, AAC, AAC Scholarship Committee chair. “Our partnership with BIC shows the support and dedication that the faculty and administration of the college have for students and ACF members enrolling in their program. ACF and the AAC are proud to be part of this partnership.”

Two yearly scholarships of $2,500 per year for four years will be awarded and applied directly to students’ accounts at BIC. Scholarships are available for high school students who have been accepted to BIC and plan on becoming a chef. Applications are available at www.acfchefs.org, by clicking on “schools” then “scholarships.” The application deadline is March 31 of each year, and the scholarship money will be applied in the fall semester. The AAC Scholarship Committee will select the 2011 winners in May.

“Laying an excellent educational foundation is the mission Baltimore International College has dedicated its resources for decades,” said Edgar B. Schick, Ph.D., L.H.D. [h.c.], interim president at BIC. “In culinary education, the American Culinary Federation is the leading national voice, so it is a pleasure and an honor for us to join forces with ACF to help make the education of highly competent, motivated students possible. This is a great investment for students, the culinary industry and BIC.”

Eligibility requirements:

• Be an exemplary student; have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher during senior year

• Be a high school senior eligible to graduate the same year as the scholarship is applied for

• Be currently accepted to BIC with a major in culinary or pastry arts

• Have a career goal of becoming a chef or pastry chef

Items needed to apply:

• Completed application and essay

• Two letters of recommendation from industry culinary professionals and/or culinary educators

• Sealed final official transcript showing current GPA

The American Academy of Chefs offers educational scholarships to high school students entering culinary school, as well as to those currently attending culinary school. The scholarships are given throughout the year to qualified applicants who meet a strict set of requirements. These scholarships help young culinarians achieve their educational goals. Last year, the AAC, through its partnerships, distributed $46,000 in scholarship funds to culinary students. In addition to BIC, AAC also currently offers scholarships to Johnson & Wales University and The Culinary Institute of America.

Photo: Senior pastry-chef instructor Jan Bandula, CMPC, instructs students at Baltimore International College.