Scholarships

In 1989, DiRōNA established an endowment fund with the NRAEF to encourage students to pursue careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Annually, DiRōNA 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. 

Scholarship applications will re-open in March 2025

“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.” 

Ted Balestreri

Co-Founder and Past, DiRōNA Chairman

2024 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Nicholas Brown

Nicholas Brown

Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Arts-Fine Dining

 

Tranean Cade

Tranean Cade

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Culinary Arts

 

Mikayla Johnson

Mikayla Johnson

Johnson and Wales

Culinary Arts

 

Seanna Kryger

Seanna Kryger

George Brown College

Food Studies

 

Kaleb Johnson

Kaleb Johnson

Culinary Institute of America

Culinary Arts

 

Rachel Simpson

Rachel Simpson

Morgan State University

Hospitality Management

 

Liam Sullivan

Liam Sullivan

Culinary Institute of America

Culinary Arts

 

2023 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Hannah Blair

Hannah Blair

Mount Saint Vincent University

Tourism and Hospitality Management

 

Caden Adams

Caden Adams

Culinary Institute of America

Culinary Arts

 

Seanna Kryger

Seanna Kryger

George Brown College

Food Studies

 

Kaleb Grunin

Kaleb Grunin

Culinary Institute of America – Greystone

Culinary Arts

 

Benjamin Krakower

Benjamin Krakower

University of Nevada – Las Vegas
Food Business Management

 

Winny (Wei) Liang

Winny (Wei) Liang

Mount Saint Vincent University

Tourism and Hospitality Management

 

Yamuna Tamang

Yamuna Tamang

Mount Saint Vincent University

Food and Beverage Management

 

2022 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Luis Arriola

Luis Arriola

Culinary Institute of America
Baking & Pastry

Nicolas Frazier

Nicolas Frazier

Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Science & Baking & Pastry

Seanna Kryger

Seanna Kryger

George Brown College
Food Studies

Brenna LeDuc

Brenna LeDuc

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Baking & Pastry and Service Management

Devika Manchanda

Devika Manchanda

Culinary Institute of America
Food Business Management

Andrew Plummer

Andrew Plummer

Nicholls State University
Culinary Arts/Patisserie concentration

Kamilla Salazar

Kamilla Salazar

Johnson & Wales University
Baking & Pastry Arts

Dulanjali Withana

Dulanjali Withana

Mount Saint Vincent University
Tourism & Hospitality

Feiyan Zhou

Feiyan Zhou

Mount Saint Vincent University
Tourism & Hospitality

2021 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Alex Burslem

Alex Burslem

Honeoye Falls, New York
Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park
Culinary Arts

Andres Piedra

Andres Piedra

Ottawa, Ontario
Le Cordon Bleu
Culinary Arts

Omar Salazar

Omar Salazar

Oxnard, California
Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park
Culinary Arts

Jasmine Thoo

Jasmine Thoo

Vancouver, British Columbia
Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver
Culinary Arts

Courtney Wyatt

Courtney Wyatt

Charlotte, North Carolina
East Carolina University
Hospitality

2020 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Stephen Baird

Stephen Baird

Niagara College
Culinary Arts

Parker Heil

Parker Heil

Niagara College
Culinary Arts

Aden Lewin

Aden Lewin

Culinary Institute of America
Baking and Pastry Arts

Lenski Parker

Lenski Parker

Culinary Institute of America
Applied Food Studies

2019 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Eunseo Kim

Eunseo Kim

Niagara College
Hospitality

Daniel Matos

Daniel Matos

Culinary Institute of America
Food and Beverage Management

Greta Miller

Greta Miller

York College Pennsylvania
Hospitality

Victor Valentin

Victor Valentin

Johnson & Wales University – Providence
Culinary Arts

2018 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Melvin Nguyen

Melvin Nguyen

New York University
Majoring in Hospitality

Daniel Matos

Daniel Matos

Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Arts

Jose Luna

Jose Luna

Monterey Peninsula College
Baking & Pastry Arts

Jordan Weber

Jordan Weber

Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Arts

Robert McCall

Robert McCall

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts

Alana Mendez

Alana Mendez

Johnson & Wales University
Food Tourism & Hospitality Management

2017 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Nathan Cook

Nathan Cook

Sullivan University

Gueye Coty

Gueye Coty

Gateway Community College

Sarah Sbai

Sarah Sbai

Kendall College

Thomas Vitatoe

Thomas Vitatoe

Pittsburg Technical Institute

Diana Camacho

Diana Camacho

Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte

Helen Tabitha Lindsay

Helen Tabitha Lindsay

Niagara College

Alexis Currell-Therrien

Alexis Currell-Therrien

Niagara College

2016 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients

Tiara Alston

Tiara Alston

Sullivan University

Annslea Schaber

Annslea Schaber

Sullivan University

John Sadler

John Sadler

Sullivan University

Kristin Criswell

Kristin Criswell

Culinary Institute of America

Anna Marano

Anna Marano

Stratford Chefs School

Solange Arias

Solange Arias

Humber College