Our Scholarships Help Women Pursue Careers in the Food Industry.

The History: Since 2017, a portion of all donated funds are awarded in scholarships to women pursuing a variety of careers in the food industries. To date, our scholarship program has helped offset the costs of culinar education for dozens of women in and around the Greater Kansas City area.

The Scholarship:

Scholarships will be awarded to woman pursuing a career in the food, culinary arts, nutrition, wine or hospitality fields.
If appropriate, recipient must be a high school graduate as of May in the year she is applying for the scholarship.
New and continuing students are eligible.
Students may also be in mid-career who want to change course or expand opportunities by pursuing a sommelier certification, chef's training, nutrition, hospitality, sustainable agriculture, bakery science and management, entrepreneurship for a food/beverage/hospitality business, or other areas that reflect the full range of career possibilities reflected in LDEI membership around the world. Please note: scholarships are paid only and directly to accredited institutions.
Recipients must be planning to attend, or are enrolled in, an educational program targeted to a degree or certificate from an accredited college, culinary school or vocational program at the post-secondary level. Scholarships will be awarded directly to the recipient’s school in late summer or fall. The area of study must relate to and support the recipient’s career goal in the foods arena.
Recipient must demonstrate a focus on and a passion to achieve her career goal.
Recipients are invited and encouraged to attend at least one LDEI event per year. Additionally, they may be invited to work with chefs at these events.

Criteria for award:

50% Career focus and goals
25% Recommendation(s)
15% Academics
Reflecting the values of LDEI, including community involvement, service and philanthropic endeavors

Applications are available here for the coming school year. Be sure to note deadlines.

Previous recipients of the LDEI-KC Scholarship.

The selections are made by committee; in 2018 it included Judith Fertig, Chris Becicka and Kathy Moore. In 2019, Shanita Bryant joined the committee.

2018 | Allen Pepito is a student at Broadmoor and her recommendation came from Bob Brassard. Her goal is to own her own restaurant and she has applied to Johnson and Wales in Myrtle Beach. She has a Filipino heritage, moving to the USA in 2009. Broadmoor has been very important to her and she anticipates paying for college without much family support.

2018 | Josephine Hunter graduated from high school in 2013 and has returned to school. She is the in the chef apprentice program at JCCC and hopes to graduate in 2020. Her recommendation came from Aaron Prater of JCCC. Her goal is to become a pastry chef and open a bakery. She was involved in Junior Achievement and Soka Gakki International, a world-wide Buddhist organization that promotes peace and education. She indicated she wants to motivate the next generation.

2019 | Jenna Halverson is completing her studies at Truman High School and attends Johnson County Community College in the Chef Apprenticeship program. Says Jena, “Throughout my life, it has given me great joy and purpose when I help a local soup kitchen for the homeless and less fortunate in my metro area. Providing warmth and nutrients to those who couldn’t provide for themselves makes my feel grateful to be in the position to be able to help those less fortunate than I.”

2019 | Kathryn Wilson has a degree in animal science from Kansas State University, but has returned to school at Johnson County Community College to continue her studies in Food and Beverage Management AAS. Kathryn says, “I will take on aspiring chefs and support them as I have been taught and supported through my journey. It is my duty to pass on my knowledge and experiences to help others.”

2019 | Hannah Brockerd currently attends Grain Valley High School and the Career and Technology Center at Fort Osage. She wishes to pursue a degree in Food and Nutrition/Dietetics at Northwest Missouri State. Says Hannah, “I have been participating and organizing community service projects that relate to food: volunteering at the Coldwater clothes closet/food pantry, Harvesters multiple times, and the Something To Eat Organization.”

Previous recipients of the LDEI-KC Scholarship.

2018 | Allen Pepito is a student at Broadmoor and her recommendation came from Bob Brassard. Her goal is to own her own restaurant and she has applied to Johnson and Wales in Myrtle Beach. She has a Filipino heritage, moving to the USA in 2009. Broadmoor has been very important to her and she anticipates paying for college without much family support.

2018 | Josephine Hunter graduated from high school in 2013 and has returned to school. She is the in the chef apprentice program at JCCC and hopes to graduate in 2020. Her recommendation came from Aaron Prater of JCCC. Her goal is to become a pastry chef and open a bakery. She was involved in Junior Achievement and Soka Gakki International, a world-wide Buddhist organization that promotes peace and education. She indicated she wants to motivate the next generation.

2019 | Jenna Halverson is completing her studies at Truman High School and attends Johnson County Community College in the Chef Apprenticeship program. Says Jena, “Throughout my life, it has given me great joy and purpose when I help a local soup kitchen for the homeless and less fortunate in my metro area. Providing warmth and nutrients to those who couldn’t provide for themselves makes my feel grateful to be in the position to be able to help those less fortunate than I.”

2019 | Kathryn Wilson has a degree in animal science from Kansas State University, but has returned to school at Johnson County Community College to continue her studies in Food and Beverage Management AAS. Kathryn says, “I will take on aspiring chefs and support them as I have been taught and supported through my journey. It is my duty to pass on my knowledge and experiences to help others.”

2019 | Hannah Brockerd Hannah Brockerd is from Lone Jack, Missouri and is graduating from Grain Valley H.S./Career Technology Center at Ft. Osage. She is enrolling at Northwest Missouri State. University in food and nutrition.

Previous recipients of the LDEI-KC Scholarship.

The selections are made by committee; in 2018 it included Judith Fertig, Chris Becicka and Kathy Moore. In 2019, Shanita Bryant joined the committee.

2018 | Allen Pepito is a student at Broadmoor and her recommendation came from Bob Brassard. Her goal is to own her own restaurant and she has applied to Johnson and Wales in Myrtle Beach. She has a Filipino heritage, moving to the USA in 2009. Broadmoor has been very important to her and she anticipates paying for college without much family support.

2018 | Josephine Hunter graduated from high school in 2013 and has returned to school. She is the in the chef apprentice program at JCCC and hopes to graduate in 2020. Her recommendation came from Aaron Prater of JCCC. Her goal is to become a pastry chef and open a bakery. She was involved in Junior Achievement and Soka Gakki International, a world-wide Buddhist organization that promotes peace and education. She indicated she wants to motivate the next generation.

2019 | Jenna Halverson is completing her studies at Truman High School and attends Johnson County Community College in the Chef Apprenticeship program. Says Jena, “Throughout my life, it has given me great joy and purpose when I help a local soup kitchen for the homeless and less fortunate in my metro area. Providing warmth and nutrients to those who couldn’t provide for themselves makes my feel grateful to be in the position to be able to help those less fortunate than I.”

2019 | Kathryn Wilson has a degree in animal science from Kansas State University, but has returned to school at Johnson County Community College to continue her studies in Food and Beverage Management AAS. Kathryn says, “I will take on aspiring chefs and support them as I have been taught and supported through my journey. It is my duty to pass on my knowledge and experiences to help others.”

2019 | Hannah Brockerd Hannah Brockerd is from Lone Jack, Missouri and is graduating from Grain Valley H.S./Career Technology Center at Ft. Osage. She is enrolling at Northwest Missouri State. University in food and nutrition.

Previous recipients of the LDEI-KC Scholarship.

The selections are made by committee; in 2018 it included Judith Fertig, Chris Becicka and Kathy Moore. In 2019, Shanita Bryant joined the committee.

2018 | Allen Pepito is a student at Broadmoor and her recommendation came from Bob Brassard. Her goal is to own her own restaurant and she has applied to Johnson and Wales in Myrtle Beach. She has a Filipino heritage, moving to the USA in 2009. Broadmoor has been very important to her and she anticipates paying for college without much family support.

2018 | Josephine Hunter graduated from high school in 2013 and has returned to school. She is the in the chef apprentice program at JCCC and hopes to graduate in 2020. Her recommendation came from Aaron Prater of JCCC. Her goal is to become a pastry chef and open a bakery. She was involved in Junior Achievement and Soka Gakki International, a world-wide Buddhist organization that promotes peace and education. She indicated she wants to motivate the next generation.

2019 | Jenna Halverson is completing her studies at Truman High School and attends Johnson County Community College in the Chef Apprenticeship program. Says Jena, “Throughout my life, it has given me great joy and purpose when I help a local soup kitchen for the homeless and less fortunate in my metro area. Providing warmth and nutrients to those who couldn’t provide for themselves makes my feel grateful to be in the position to be able to help those less fortunate than I.”

2019 | Kathryn Wilson has a degree in animal science from Kansas State University, but has returned to school at Johnson County Community College to continue her studies in Food and Beverage Management AAS. Kathryn says, “I will take on aspiring chefs and support them as I have been taught and supported through my journey. It is my duty to pass on my knowledge and experiences to help others.”

2019 | Hannah Brockerd Hannah Brockerd is from Lone Jack, Missouri and is graduating from Grain Valley H.S./Career Technology Center at Ft. Osage. She is enrolling at Northwest Missouri State. University in food and nutrition.

Yes, I would like to help

by making a tax-deductible donation to the KAnsas City Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting women in the hospitality, food and fine beverage industries.

Donate Now

Previous recipients of the LDEI-KC Scholarship.

The selections are made by committee; in 2018 it included Judith Fertig, Chris Becicka and Kathy Moore. In 2019, Shanita Bryant joined the committee.

2018 | Allen Pepito is a student at Broadmoor and her recommendation came from Bob Brassard. Her goal is to own her own restaurant and she has applied to Johnson and Wales in Myrtle Beach. She has a Filipino heritage, moving to the USA in 2009. Broadmoor has been very important to her and she anticipates paying for college without much family support.

2018 | Josephine Hunter graduated from high school in 2013 and has returned to school. She is the in the chef apprentice program at JCCC and hopes to graduate in 2020. Her recommendation came from Aaron Prater of JCCC. Her goal is to become a pastry chef and open a bakery. She was involved in Junior Achievement and Soka Gakki International, a world-wide Buddhist organization that promotes peace and education. She indicated she wants to motivate the next generation.

2019 | Jenna Halverson is completing her studies at Truman High School and attends Johnson County Community College in the Chef Apprenticeship program. Says Jena, “Throughout my life, it has given me great joy and purpose when I help a local soup kitchen for the homeless and less fortunate in my metro area. Providing warmth and nutrients to those who couldn’t provide for themselves makes my feel grateful to be in the position to be able to help those less fortunate than I.”

2019 | Kathryn Wilson has a degree in animal science from Kansas State University, but has returned to school at Johnson County Community College to continue her studies in Food and Beverage Management AAS. Kathryn says, “I will take on aspiring chefs and support them as I have been taught and supported through my journey. It is my duty to pass on my knowledge and experiences to help others.”

2019 | Hannah Brockerd currently attends Grain Valley High School and the Career and Technology Center at Fort Osage. She wishes to pursue a degree in Food and Nutrition/Dietetics at Northwest Missouri State. Says Hannah, “I have been participating and organizing community service projects that relate to food: volunteering at the Coldwater clothes closet/food pantry, Harvesters multiple times, and the Something To Eat Organization.”

Yes, I would like to help

further the education of young women entering the culinary field with a tax-deductible donation to the scholarship fund.

Donate Now