C-cap Culinary Scholarships For Teens Soar To $2,000,000

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), has the largest independent culinary scholarship program in the United States, and this year presented a record-breaking $2,000,000 in scholarships to student chefs competing in the 2004 C-CAP Cooking Competitions for Scholarships.

The C-CAP Scholarships offer underserved youth across the nation promising futures in the foodservice industry. Each student is provided the opportunity to attend one of 35 post-secondary culinary programs.

According to C-CAP's founder and president Richard Grausman, "this year's competitions drew talent from over 200 public high schools participating in C-CAP--175 students will share the $2,000,000 in scholarships awarded this year." He added, "This year's awards represent a 25-percent increase over last year."

Scholarships range from $1,000 C-CAP Awards to four-year, full-tuition scholarships at Johnson & Wales and the Culinary Institute of America, each valued at approximately $80,000.

The fifteen-year-old organization, sponsors spring cooking competitions for high school seniors in seven major locales including Arizona, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Tidewater, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The C-CAP Cooking Competitions for Scholarships offer an opportunity for culinary professionals and C-CAP administrators to spot the stars of the future and award them scholarships to continue their culinary education.

In addition, throughout the year C-CAP strives to equip public school students with the skills required to succeed in the workplace, and to impart the lasting assets of self-esteem, self-reliance, and teamwork.

In partnership with public schools, local businesses and organizations, C-CAP provides a host of services including teacher training, jobs and internships, volunteer industry professionals, college and career advising, after-school programs, product and equipment donations, and scholarships to post-secondary culinary programs.

Since 1990, C-CAP has trained over 300 teachers, reached 90,000 students, awarded 1,500 scholarships valued at $13 million, and donated more than $1.5 million worth of equipment and supplies to financially-strapped public schools in New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Philadelphia; Tidewater, VA; Washington, D.C.; and throughout Arizona.

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