The James Beard Foundation Is Giving Out More Than $500,000 In Scholarships This Year

The James Beard Foundation is known not just for its annual awards honoring current culinary greats, but also for the encouragement of up-and-coming food professionals. This year, the James Beard Foundation will be awarding more than $500,000 in scholarships and grants to culinary students, the largest amount in the foundation's history. The foundation will begin accepting applications starting on April 1.

"For more than two decades now, our Foundation has nurtured and educated the next generation of great chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and beverage experts through our prestigious scholarship program," said Diane Harris Brown, director of educational and community programming for the James Beard Foundation. "This year the foundation is expanding its reach with a global opportunity, offering international scholarships in France and Italy."

In 2015, new scholarship opportunities include the Charlie Trotter Memorial Scholarship, created this year in chef Trotter's memory after his death in 2013. Up to four scholarships, for $15,000 each, will be awarded to students who plan on attending culinary school. A new international scholarship for would-be culinary professionals in other countries is the $20,000 Alain Ducasse Education Scholarship for students attending one of chef Ducasse's culinary educations programs.