Scholarship
The founders of DiRōNA had one simple idea in mind: To preserve and promote the ultimate in distinguished dining.
In 1989, DiRoNA established an endowment fund with the NRAEF to encourage students to pursue careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Annually, DiRoNA honors its key industry partners, media patrons, and past chairmen through the scholarship program. This scholarship program was created to inspire students to pursue their passion for the culinary arts. This scholarship is for any student pursuing an education in a restaurant, food service, or hospitality related major with an interest in fine dining.
Recipients are selected through a rigorous review of applications from throughout North America.
A minimum of 5 DiRoNA scholarships are provided each year through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
2055 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
T: 800-424-5156
“The gift of an education is rewarding; the end result is immeasurable. The knowledge of food and wine and hospitality is a gift to share, and we are proud to help promote the education of the best in our field.”
2023 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Hannah Blair
Tourism and Hospitality Management, Mount Saint Vincent University
Caden Adams
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Seanna Kryger
Food Studies, George Brown College
Kaleb Grunin
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America – Greystone
Benjamin Krakower
Food Business Management, University of Nevada – Las Vegas
Winny (Wei) Liang
Tourism and Hospitality Management, Mount Saint Vincent University
Yamuna Tamang
Food and Beverage Management, Mount Saint Vincent University
2022 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
Luis Arriola, Baking & Pastry
Culinary Institute of America
Nicolas Frazier, Culinary Science & Baking & Pastry
Culinary Institute of America
Seanna Kryger, Food Studies
George Brown College
Brenna LeDuc,Baking & Pastry and Service Management
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Devika Manchanda, Food Business Management
Culinary Institute of America
Andrew Plummer, Culinary Arts/Patisserie concentration
Nicholls State University
Kamilla Salazar, Baking & Pastry Arts
Johnson & Wales University
Dulanjali Withana, Tourism & Hospitality
Mount Saint Vincent University
Feiyan Zhou, Tourism & Hospitality
Mount Saint Vincent University
2021 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
Alex Burslem Honeoye Falls, New York
Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park Culinary Arts
Andres Piedra Ottawa, Ontario
Le Cordon Bleu – Culinary Arts
Omar Salazar Oxnard, California
Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park Culinary Arts
Jasmine Thoo Vancouver, British Columbia
Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver Culinary Arts
Courtney Wyatt Charlotte, North Carolina
East Carolina University Hospitality
2020 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
Stephen Baird
Culinary Arts, Niagara College
Parker Heil
Culinary Arts, Niagara College
Aden Lewin
Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Lenski Parker
Applied Food Studies, Culinary Institute of America
2019 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
Eunseo Kim – Hospitality, Niagara College
Daniel Matos – Food and Beverage Management, Culinary Institute of America
Greta Miller – Hospitality, York College Pennsylvania
Victor Valentin – Culinary Arts, Johnson & Wales University – Providence
2018 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
DiRoNA 2018 Scholarship Winner
Melvin Nguyen, Boston, MA
Majoring in Hospitality
Studying at
New York University
DiRoNA 2018 Scholarship Winner
Jordan Weber, Aldie, VA
Majoring in Culinary Arts
Studying at
Culinary Institute of America
DiRoNA 2018 Scholarship Winner
Daniel Matos, Tampa, FL
Majoring in Culinary Arts
Studying at
Culinary Institute of America
DiRoNA 2018 Scholarship Winner
Robert McCall, New York, NY
Majoring in Culinary Arts
Studying at:
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
DiRoNA 2018 Scholarship Winner
Jose Luna, Salinas, CA
Majoring in Baking & Pastry Arts
Studying at
Monterey Peninsula College
DiRoNA 2018 Scholarship Winner
Alana Mendez, Rincon, Puerto Rico
Majoring in
Food Tourism & Hospitality Management
Studying at
Johnson & Wales University
2017 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
Nathan Cook – Sullivan University
Gueye Coty – Gateway Community College
Sarah Sbai – Kendall College
Thomas Vitatoe – Pittsburg Technical Institute
Diana Camacho – Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte
Helen Tabitha Lindsay – Niagara College
Alexis Currell-Therrien – Niagara College
2016 DiRoNA Scholarship Recipients
Tiara Alston – Sullivan University
Annslea Schaber – Sullivan University
John Sadler – Sullivan University
Kristin Criswell – Culinary Institute of America
Anna Marano – Stratford Chefs School
Solange Arias – Humber College