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.”
2024 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Nicholas Brown
Nicholas BrownCulinary Institute of America |
Tranean Cade
Tranean CadeMilwaukee Area Technical College Culinary Arts |
Mikayla Johnson
Mikayla JohnsonJohnson and Wales Culinary Arts |
Seanna Kryger
Seanna KrygerGeorge Brown College Food Studies |
Kaleb Johnson
Kaleb JohnsonCulinary Institute of America Culinary Arts |
Rachel Simpson
Rachel SimpsonMorgan State University Hospitality Management |
Liam Sullivan
Liam SullivanCulinary Institute of America Culinary Arts |
2023 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Hannah Blair
Hannah BlairMount Saint Vincent University Tourism and Hospitality Management |
Caden Adams
Caden AdamsCulinary Institute of America Culinary Arts |
Seanna Kryger
Seanna KrygerGeorge Brown College Food Studies |
Kaleb Grunin
Kaleb GruninCulinary Institute of America – Greystone Culinary Arts |
Benjamin Krakower
Benjamin KrakowerUniversity of Nevada – Las Vegas |
Winny (Wei) Liang
Winny (Wei) LiangMount Saint Vincent University Tourism and Hospitality Management |
Yamuna Tamang
Yamuna TamangMount 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