Les Dames d’Escoffier New York

Introducing Our
 2009 Make a Difference Scholarship Winners

 

Veronica Rivera and Amanda Coward, our two 2009 outstanding recipients of this year’s LDNY Abbondanza! Make a Difference Scholarships, were among the honorees at our Scholarship Reception on July 27, 2009. Once again, thanks to Dames Alison Awerbuch and Abigail Kirsch, the celebration was held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on the Hudson. Joining in the celebration were Abbondanza! Fundraiser Cochair Rita Jammet, 2009 Scholarship Cochairs Abigail Kirsch and Suzi O’Rourke, New York Dames, the proud scholarship winners, their parents and guests.

 

VERONICA RIVERA, a freshman in the BA program at New York City College of Technology, CUNY, was awarded a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 for each of 4 years) to attend their four-year program.

AMANDA COWARD, a junior at the Culinary Institute of America, received a $20,000 scholarship toward her degree in the four-year program of Bachelor of Professional Studies at the CIA. 

 

These Make a Difference Scholarships, initiated in 2008, are funded by proceeds from the 2007 LDNY gala benefit, Abbondanza!, which honored Dame Lidia Bastianich. These scholarships are designed to truly make a difference in the lives of women who are so passionate in pursuing their education and careers in the food, fine beverage and hospitality industries.

 

 Honoring our 2009 Abbondanza! Make a Difference Scholarship Winners (left to right): Veronica Rivera and Amanda Coward

 

To apply for 2010 LDNY Scholarships, click here

Our Scholarship Programs

LDNY 2009 Classic Scholarship Winners, celebrating at the Scholarship
Reception chaired by Dames Alison Awerbuch and Abigail Kirsch and held
at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, July 27, 2009.

 

The Les Dames d’Escoffier New York Scholarship program has flourished and grown over the years. Since 2005, over $50,000 in scholarships has been awarded on an annual basis. In 2009, LDNY awarded over $90,000 in scholarships—eighteen Classic Scholarships and two Abbondanza! Make a Difference Scholarships.

 

CLASSIC SCHOLARSHIPS

 

Sixty-six women from eleven participating schools applied through our 2009 LDNY Classic Scholarship Program, chaired by Dames Abigail Kirsch and Suzen O'Rourke. Eighteen deserving recipients were awarded $51,000 in Classic Scholarships.

 

The recipients of these scholarships are extremely talented and passionate women who are pursuing careers in the food, fine beverage and hospitality industries. Our Chapter has impacted a diverse group of women, helping them to achieve their career goals while enabling them to succeed in their areas of focus.

 

Criteria for Les Dames New York Scholarships

  • resume
  • transcript and grade point average
  • industry experience
  • professional and personal references
  • written essay describing the student's achievements, career goals and why she feels she should be awarded a scholarship

 

Scholarship Reception and Ceremony

 

Typically between 12 and 16 scholarships are awarded annually by the New York Chapter to women of distinction. All the scholarship recipients are invited to a grand reception and award ceremony in their honor. At the event, the recipients get to meet and network with the members of Les Dames d'Escoffier New York, as well as the past years' recipients who participated in our mentoring program. At this reception they are given the unique and wonderful opportunity to participate in our Mentoring Program.

 

Over the past few years, the scholarship committee provided several ways to contribute to our scholarships:

 

MAKE A DIFFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

 

The Les Dames d’Escoffier New York Make a Difference Scholarships were initiated in 2008. The funding for these scholarships came from a gala benefit, Abbondanza!, which honored Dame Lidia Bastianich in 2007 and was co-chaired by Dames Roberta Morrell and Rita Jammet.

 

Goal of Make a Difference Scholarships

 

To make a meaningful difference in the lives of six extremely deserving women who do not have the financial means to pursue higher education in their desired fields:
* 3 C-CAP Awards—Given to C-CAP high school students towards a full four- year tuition at New York City College of Technology, CUNY
* 3 Other Make a Difference Awards vary annually:
             • In 2008, $20,000 was awarded enabling a student to attend the professional Italian immersion program at the International Culinary Center (ICC). The Center matched our award so the full $40,000 tuition was paid for.
             • In 2009, $20,000 was awarded to a bachelor’s student at the Culinary Institute of America, going toward her junior- and senior-year tuition.

 

Our Mentoring Program

 

Les Dames New York has successfully built wonderful relationships with participating schools and their students. Past recipients speak highly, not only of the scholarships they have been given but also of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in our mentoring program. Each recipient is offered the opportunity of being paired with a Dame who works with her for a minimum of one year as advisor, coach and friend.Lasting relationships have been formed that have undoubtedly helped many young women achieve their career goals, something of which Les Dames d'Escoffier New York is very proud. click here
Copyright 2009 Les Dames d’Escoffier New York