CAFÉ is offering seven awards with cash prizes totaling $7,000 for entrepreneurial spirit, sustainability, commitment to education, community outreach, technology and a first-ever Student of the Year recognition. Award applications are being accepted until April 1, 2022. Along with each cash prize, winners also receive a free registration to CAFÉ’s Leadership Conference, held June 22-24 in Portland, Maine. Winners will be honored at a special award ceremony on June 22.

Kendall College/National Louis University Entrepreneurship Award - $1,000 prize
The award identifies culinary programs that either teach or encourage entrepreneurship in their programming or implement revenue-generation and cost savings into their operations. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools

Specific documentation that is suggested/required:

• Include all contact information in application
• Description of entrepreneurship outreach in fewer than 500 words
• Documentation illustrating the effort
• Measurement of the success of this idea/initiative/effort
• Include with these materials that you are giving permission to use any of the information submitted in publicity about the award
• Entries will be judged by the quality of the design and applicability of the outreach whether it is project-based or concept-based

United Soybean Board Green Award - $1,000 prize
The Green Award is offered to individuals/culinary programs that emphasize sustainability or other “green” aspects in their programs. This award is sponsored by the United Soybean Board who is proud to reach out to educators and to recognize their efforts instructing students in the importance of agriculture in their product selection and menu designs. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools.

Specific documentation that is suggested/required:

• Include all contact information in your application
• Entries judged in the areas of quality of design, applicability, replicability, stewardship, success in implementation of the project or concept, impact upon the college and community, and thoughtful innovation in practice and technique
• Application should include description of accomplishment(s) in less than 500 words
• Attach documentation illustrating the effort
• Show how you measure success of this idea/initiative/effort
• Include with these materials that you are giving permission to use any of the submitted information in publicity

Idaho Potato Commission Educator of the Year Award – Two $1,000 prizes
These awards are open to secondary and post-secondary educators as well as culinary educators working within the non-profit training sector.

Specific documentation that is suggested/required:

• Contact information including name, address, school, email, and phone
• Provide evidence of the educator’s professional commitment to the educational community and foodservice industry which might include school committee work, professional networking, and community involvement
• Include a resume with the application
• Provide descriptions of ongoing professional development in both instructional and technical skills in the last few years
• Describe overall evidence that the educator has proven leadership in his/her profession; examples may include peer reviews, student evaluations, letters of recommendation, certificates and honors received, etc.
• Include with these materials that you are giving permission to use any of the submitted information in publicity

NEW Idaho Potato Commission Student of the Year Award - $1,000 prize plus an all-expenses-paid trip to the September 2022 Idaho Potato Harvest Tour
This award is open to any student attending a postsecondary school.

Specific documentation that is suggested/required:

• Name, address, email and phone number
• School presently attending
• Resume, indicating work experience, competitions (if any), courses completed, club or professional memberships, and individual accomplishments
• Essay of at least 100 words indicating career or professional goals
• Two letters of reference from instructors, lab assistants, or department head
• One letter of reference from industry-related employment, volunteer or paid position
• Include with these materials that you are giving permission to use any of the information submitted in publicity about the award
• The winner of the award will be expected to write two 100-word essays on the experience from the Harvest Tour. The essays should be accompanied with pictures and be formatted for publication in The Gold Medal Classroom

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Community Outreach Award - $1,000 prize
This award is open to culinary/hospitality programs or individuals making a positive impact in their communities via outreach programs such as food banks, recycling efforts, skill development for homeless, etc. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools.

Submission guidelines:

• Contact information including name, address, school, email, and phone
• Include a description of services you provide to the community and any quantifiable benefits that have resulted. Please provide specific examples in addition to testimonials as available.
• Include with these materials that you are giving permission to use any of the submitted information in publicity

RATIONAL Technology Award - $1,000 prize
The 2022 Technology Award will be offered to individuals/culinary programs that successfully introduced technology in their programs. This award is sponsored by RATIONAL who is proud to reach out to educators and to recognize their efforts instructing students in the complex world of technology and culinary arts. It is open to individuals and culinary programs in secondary and post-secondary schools.

Submission guidelines:

• Contact information including name, address, school, email, and phone
• Entries judged in the areas of applicability, replicability, success in implementation of the outreach, and appropriate/thoughtful innovation in practice and technique
• Description of accomplishment(s) in fewer than 500 words
• Documentation illustrating the effort
• Measurement of the success of this idea/initiative/effort
• Include with these materials that you are giving permission to use any of the submitted information in publicity

Additional information on all award programs can be found by clicking here.

Also, please click here to read about the culinary educators and professionals who were honored in the 2021 award program.