American Culinary Federation Scholarship

Name: American Culinary Federation (ACF) Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies (commonly $1,500–$2,500 depending on the specific fund and applicant level)

Information and Eligibility:
The American Culinary Federation (ACF) Scholarship supports aspiring culinary professionals who are pursuing formal education in culinary arts, baking and pastry, hospitality management, or related foodservice fields. Through the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF), these scholarships help students strengthen their technical skills, gain industry credentials and enter the culinary workforce with strong professional preparation. Applicants are evaluated on academic performance, culinary experience, professional promise and commitment to excellence in the culinary arts.
Eligibility criteria include:

• Academic Level: Open to high-school seniors, college students and adult learners enrolled or accepted into an accredited culinary-arts, baking/pastry, or hospitality program.
• Enrollment Status: Must be pursuing full-time or part-time study at an accredited post-secondary institution or ACFEF-recognized program.
• Field of Study: Culinary arts, baking and pastry, hospitality management, foodservice operations, nutrition/culinary science or related disciplines.
• Professional Focus: Applicants should demonstrate genuine interest in entering the culinary field and developing professional skills in foodservice or hospitality.

Application Requirements:

• Completed ACF scholarship application form through the ACFEF scholarship portal.
• Official or unofficial transcript showing academic performance and enrollment status.
• Résumé detailing culinary experience, competitions, industry employment, volunteer service or ProStart involvement.
• Personal essay describing career goals in the culinary field and how the scholarship will support academic and professional growth.
• One to two letters of recommendation from instructors, employers or mentors in the culinary or hospitality industry.

Selection Criteria:

• Academic performance and commitment to completing a culinary or hospitality program.
• Demonstrated industry passion through work experience, culinary competitions, volunteer roles or extracurricular participation.
• Leadership potential, professionalism and alignment with ACF standards of excellence.
• Quality and completeness of all application materials.

Additional Details:

• The ACF Education Foundation awards multiple scholarships each year across several categories, including apprenticeships, certificate programs and associate/bachelor’s degree paths.
• Funds may be used toward tuition, kitchen tools, textbooks, uniforms, exam fees or other program-related expenses.
• Recipients benefit from connection to the ACF network, including chefs, industry mentors and professional-development opportunities.

Deadline:

• April

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