Our Scholarships Help Women Pursue Careers in a Wide Range of Culinary Fields.

2025 | Allison Brandau
Allison, a previous LDEI scholarship recipient, has had a very busy 2nd year at K State, with her major in Food Science & Bakery Science and a secondary major in Global Food System Leadership. She has also continued working at Kansas Value Added Foods Lab where she is now a lab manager. She has found that the learning method for regulatory work is like solving a complex puzzle and challenges her to think critically and apply knowledge meaningfully. She is also an RA for the Honors Community at K State which has given her a new perspective on leadership and work life balance. She attended the American Society of Baking conference and has received the Society of Bakery Women Scholarship for the last two years. She cites one of the most impactful connections has been with her LDEI KC mentor Kristie Sigler. Kristie introduced her to non-traditional ways a food science degree can be applied, particularly in communication and marketing. She says this mentorship reassured her belief that she does not have to fit into a predefined mold; instead, she can shape her career uniquely to what she enjoys.

2025 | Ellyson Drake
Ellyson is completing her first year at JCCC pursuing her degree in Food and Beverage Management. She attended Herndon Career Center in her junior and senior years of high school and served as the team leader of the second-place National ProStart team. Along with her school attendance, Ellyson is a pastry assistant at 3rd Street Social. She has always dreamed of having her own bakery, however working at 3rd Street Social has presented a possible career path as a Pastry Chef in a restaurant. Also, having been inspired by her high school and college culinary educators, perhaps another career avenue is culinary education. She is also interested in curbing food waste and promoting sustainability. Whatever path Ellyson chooses she is grateful for the scholarships from LDEI KC which has allowed her to explore these possibilities.

2025 | Rachel Hartwig
Rachel is entering her final year at The Culinary Institute. She was recently at Atlas in Atlanta for her internship and this has helped her discover what she values most in her career goals. She values the connection and interaction with diners rather than high volume production and she is more interested in a collaborative and creative workplace than the status of a luxury restaurant. Her long-term goal is to create an environment where guests feel at home and the culinary staff feels part of a collaborate team. She also wants to help make affordable food that is available to everyone. She plans to do this by partnering with service organizations, working in soup kitchens and donating to
food banks.

2025 | Ke’Shawna Hayde Milligan
Ke’Shawna is currently attending JCCC working towards her Chef Apprentice AAS. She wants to master both the Chef and Baker disciplines. In high school she attended Herndon Career Center in the culinary program where she learned the importance of working as a team. In the kitchen teamwork is everything, communication and collaboration are essential, and she became better at problem solving and adapting under pressure. One of her biggest dreams is to combat food insecurity and teach people how to cook healthy and affordable meals. Her mentor, Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant has shown her how chefs can do more than just cook, they can be leaders, educators and changemakers. She wants to follow in Chef Shanita’s footsteps and use her culinary skills to give back to her community.

2025 | Nataly Montenegro
After spending the last 10 years working in coffee, starting as a barista then learning to roast, educate and manage a café, Nataly decided to explore a more expanded career in culinary. She now attends JCCC and although she is not sure of her end goal, she enjoys cooking for her loved ones and baking for her friends. She especially enjoys being back in a learning environment and engaging with others who are also on their culinary adventure. She would also like to travel and eventually experience working in different environments as she explores different worlds of pastry and bread.

2025 | Alyssa Opfer
Alyssa was attending the Art Institute of Las Vegas, and when the institution closed unexpectedly, she pivoted and attended and graduated last May from the University of Kansas. She obtained a degree in Management and Leadership, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. There she was involved with the Catalyst program, where students explored entrepreneurship and she launched her jewelry business. She learned a lot in this process, grew her business and now is focused on her goal to open a tapas restaurant. She started last fall in the Chef Apprentice program at JCCC, where she enjoys being back in a student kitchen. Culinary is more than just a career path for Alyssa, it embodies her heritage, values and entrepreneurship spirit.

2025 | Vanessa Rhymes
Vanessa is currently attending JCCC in the Hospitality and Hotel Management program. She has been passionate about the culinary world since middle school. Her father was the “chef” in her family, and she learned much from him. When her father became unable to cook any longer, Vanessa took up the meal preparing. While at the dinner table they would discuss all the elements of the dishes. Although her father is no longer with her, his teaching will always be a significant part of her education. Vanessa also enjoyed watching Julia Child, Leah Chase and Paula Dee. Vanessa is passionate about women in culinary and sees herself being an advocate for women in the industry and it is one of her future goals.

2025 | Elaina Shonkwiler
Elaine is pursuing a degree in Food and Beverage Management as well as a Baking and Pastry Certificate at JCCC. Her dream is to own her own bakery someday. Elaine says that some do not enjoy baking because it is too precise and takes a lot of patience, but that is what she loves about it. Baking has tested and grown her patience, taught her how to be precise, to never give up, learn from her mistakes, and how to properly manage her time. She is also excited to learn how to open and be a business owner. Learning how to be a successful leader and an example to her employees is important to her as well.

2025 | Jessica Smith
Jessica graduated this May from Fort Osage High School in Independence. In her junior and senior years, she attended her school’s Culinary Arts program. She has been accepted and will attend Ozark Technical College in Springfield MO this fall semester. While in the Culinary program at her high school she attended several Skills USA competitions at the local, district and state levels, and was part of the National Honor Society. She is still narrowing down her career path that she would like to explore but also sees herself working in a restaurant or catering. She values diversity and appreciates food from many cultures. She also values philanthropy and would like to use her culinary skills to help the needs of her community.

2025 | Hannah Snyder
Hannah is currently taking classes at JCCC to obtain her associate’s degree in Food and Beverage Management. She has worked for the past nine years in fast casual and currently has the responsibilities of an area coach and has enjoyed every minute of it. Her goal is to develop her skills in all areas of professional excellence, philanthropy and leadership so she can be the best example to those around her. She would also like to be part of a team that prioritizes growth and support for women in the hospitality industry.

2025 | Addison Sturtevant
After high school, Addison attended University, but while there she didn’t find anything that really excited her as far as a career. After some medical issues, Addison returned to school and is now in the Chef Apprenticeship program at JCCC and is in training to take her Certified Sous Chef Exam. She has learned so much through this program and has decided her dream/career goal is to work in a high-end restaurant in a city that has restaurants of many different cuisines. She wants to learn how to lead a team with skill and grace and encourage diversity and innovation.

2025 | Millicent Tetteh
Millicent is currently attending Kansas State pursuing a degree in Horticulture with an emphasis on Urban Food Systems. Her ultimate career goal is to become a Quality Assurance Manager in the food industry. She also has a long-term vision of transitioning into food law and regulatory affairs. Her aim is to address key challenges such as reducing foodborne illnesses and improving supply chain transparency by shaping industry standards and advocating for policies that prioritize food safety, quality, and consumer protection. Towards this goal she has already earned Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and Preventive Controls individual certifications.

2025 | Semahj Ware
Semahj graduated from De La Salle High School and for the past seven years has been attending Operation Breakthrough. There she has discovered her passion for cooking and baking. At Operation Breakthrough she has learned skills that will help with her future such as productive communication, receiving feedback, how to be a leader and networking with others. Her career goal is to own a successful bakery here in Kansas City which would incorporate all different cultures. At JCCC she plans to study Culinary Arts and Business. She would like her bakery to be in the inner city where her business would provide opportunities for inner city youth. She sees an investment in her is also an investment in the Kansas City Community.

2025 | Ava Wiebe
Ava graduated this past May from De Soto High School and will pursue an associate’s degree in culinary arts at JCCC. One of her main goals is to someday open her own bakery. She would like to have both a storefront bakery and a food truck. She loves to be inventive and has created a Strawberry Shortcake Lasagna, for which she has received very positive feedback. She also wants to work on recipes for people with dietary restrictions and allergies. She would look forward to attending LDEI events and understands the value of an LDEI mentor to support and guide her on realizing her dreams.