Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) has awarded $79,000 in scholarships to 16 dynamic women pursuing hospitality degrees who are committed to progress and philanthropy, including feeding the disenfranchised; sustainable food systems; racial justice; and breaking gender barriers. More than two million dollars ($2MM) has been awarded since the inception of Les Dames d’Escoffier’s scholarship program in 1977.
The scholarship awards were formally presented during a virtual ceremony open to the public, featuring keynote speaker Chef/Restaurateur and Dame Melissa Rodriguez. A portion of the profits from ticket sales benefits future LDNY Scholarship Awards.
“Advancing and supporting women who are future leaders poised to make a difference in our industries—and in the world at large—is at the core of Les Dames d’Escoffier,” said Co-President Jennifer O’Flanagan.
Co-President Jenifer Lang noted, “It is exciting to envision the positive impact recipients will have, and to know our annual scholarship gets them closer to actualizing this makes us especially grateful for every contribution.”
The recently introduced L’Etoile Scholarship, now in its second year, is the largest scholarship ($20,000) LDNY grants; it is awarded to a recipient who shines bright in the culinary industry. This year’s L’Etoile Scholarship Award recipient Patricia Moran, a Culinary Institute of America Culinary Sciences student, has a career goal of opening a café and community center that offers services, resources and workshops, with a sustainable farm on premises.
In addition, a new LDNY Carol Brock Scholarship was given in memory and honor of the organization’s founder. Carol Brock (1924-2020) founded Les Dames d’Escoffier in 1976 to empower women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, filling a void in the male-dominated fields. Through her leadership, the organization identified scholarships, educational programs and networking opportunities as tools to break through bias-based professional barriers. The LDNY Carol Brock Scholarship recipient Javonne Alonzo, a New York University M.A. Food Studies candidate, is set to do this by developing programming to bring Black culinary history into the curriculum of more colleges.
In partnership with LDNY, culinary, pastry, and hospitality scholarships are given by Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and Institute of Culinary Education (ICE).
2021 Les Dames d’Escoffier scholarship award recipients also include:
Alych Padro (CIA), The Abigail Kirsch & Alison Awerbuch Scholarship · Maddalena Ahl (CIA), Chantel Hightower (CIA), and Amanda Scoca (CIA), The Margaret and Darby Perry Scholarship · Melissa Ruiz Diaz (Kingsborough College), Culinary Advancement Scholarship · Christina Rivara (Cornell), Hospitality Management Scholarship · Naomii Tringali, International Wine Center · Lucy Feng Wu, (City Tech-CUNY), Hospitality Management Scholarship · Kristyna Zappasodi (Montclair State University), LDNY Nutrition Scholarship · Dalila Barillas (ICE), Hospitality Management Scholarship · Quilla Chelsea Gamarra (ICE), Baking & Pastry Arts Scholarship · Madeline Osovski, CIA In-Kind Scholarship · Nkaassaa Rochelle Render (ICE), Culinary Arts Scholarship · Mackenzie Matheson, C-CAP Scholarship
Event sponsor, GreenPan, has generously donated a ceramic nonstick frypan to each of the scholarship winners.
To learn more about and donate to LDNY scholarships, please visit their website.
About Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) : LDNY is the founding and largest chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), an experienced 501c3 non-profit organization. LDNY’s vision is guided by three objectives: Education, Advocacy and Philanthropy. LDNY ‘s mission is to advance and support aspiring professional women in food and beverage, and champion critical industry issues. Visit their website and follow @lesdamesny on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
