Hospitality Students can Apply for Scholarships from the Taste

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops has scholarship opportunities available for high school students pursuing higher education in the foodservice and hospitality industries! Get the details here!

This year, seven scholarships will be presented to students, providing a total of $8,500! Two additional scholarships, thanks to generous donations by the Taste’s event coordinator and the Taste’s sponsor partner – Smithfield Foods, have been added! “Since the program began in 1997, the Taste has awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships,” added Richard McDermott, event chair said in a press release. “We’re proud to continue our support of the local culinary community, especially with the addition of two new scholarships this year.”

The Taste has $1,000 to be used to create a scholarship for the advancement of women in Culinary Arts, which will be awarded to a female graduating from high school in June 2018, who is pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts. According to a press release, Connie Wendling, Taste of Buffalo’s Event Coordinator, said “As part of the 2017 Women of Influence award, I received $1000 to grant to a not-for-profit of my choice. In the spirit of the award, I selected the Taste to receive the monies to create a scholarship specifically for women in the culinary field. I am very honored to have this opportunity and to be part of this outstanding festival.”

Smithfield Foods Deli Brand Scholarship, Presented by Margherita® and Healthy Ones®, will give a $2,500 scholarship to a college-bound student in Western New York who is pursuing a degree in Foodservice, Culinary Arts, or Hospitality.

Any student applying for a Taste scholarship must be a resident of Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, Genesee, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, or Allegany counties. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Visit www.tasteofbuffalo.com for more information.