Scholarship
The founders of DiRōNA had one simple idea in mind: To preserve and promote the ultimate in distinguished dining.
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 DiRōNA scholarships are provided each year through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
2055 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
T: 800-424-5156
“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
Past DiRōNA Chairman
2023 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Hannah Blair
Tourism and Hospitality Management, Mount Saint Vincent University
Caden Adams
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Seanna Kryger
Food Studies, George Brown College
Kaleb Grunin
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America - Greystone
Benjamin Krakower
Food Business Management, University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Winny (Wei) Liang
Tourism and Hospitality Management, Mount Saint Vincent University
Yamuna Tamang
Food and Beverage Management, Mount Saint Vincent University
2022 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Luis Arriola
Baking & Pastry, Culinary Institute of America
Nicolas Frazier
Culinary Science & Baking & Pastry, Culinary Institute of America
Seanna Kryger
Food Studies, George Brown College
Brenna LeDuc
Baking & Pastry and Service Management, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Devika Manchanda
Food Business Management, Culinary Institute of America
Andrew Plummer
Culinary Arts/Patisserie concentration, Nicholls State University
Kamilla Salazar
Baking & Pastry Arts, Johnson & Wales University
Dulanjali Withana
Tourism & Hospitality, Mount Saint Vincent University
Feiyan Zhou
Tourism & Hospitality, Mount Saint Vincent University
2021 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Alex Burslem
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park
Andres Piedra
Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu
Omar Salazar
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park
Jasmine Thoo
Culinary Arts, Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver
Courtney Wyatt
Hospitality, East Carolina University
2020 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Stephen Baird
Culinary Arts, Niagara College
Parker Heil
Culinary Arts, Niagara College
Aden Lewin
Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Lenski Parker
Applied Food Studies, Culinary Institute of America
2019 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Eunseo Kim
Hospitality, Niagara College
Daniel Matos
Food and Beverage Management, Culinary Institute of America
Greta Miller
Hospitality, York College Pennsylvania
Victor Valentin
Culinary Arts, Johnson & Wales University – Providence
2018 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Melvin Nguyen
Hospitality, New York University
Daniel Matos
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Jose Luna
Baking & Pastry Arts. Monterey Peninsula College
Jordan Weber
Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Robert McCall
Culinary Arts, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Alana Mendez
Food Tourism & Hospitality Management, Johnson & Wales University
2017 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Nathan Cook
Sullivan University
Gueye Coty
Gateway Community College
Sarah Sbai
Kendall College
Thomas Vitatoe
Pittsburg Technical Institute
Diana Camacho
Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte
Helen Tabitha Lindsay
Niagara College
Alexis Currell-Therrien
Niagara College
2016 DiRōNA Scholarship Recipients
Tiara Alston
Sullivan University
Annslea Schaber
Sullivan University
John Sadler
Sullivan University
Kristin Criswell
Culinary Institute of America
Anna Marano
Stratford Chefs School
Solange Arias
Humber College
