LAUSD Students Cook Their Way to College Scholarships

Local high school students involved in Los Angeles Unified School District culinary programs recently took part in the annual Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C- CAP) event, and a few managed to chop the competition and receive scholarships to culinary schools and colleges.

Nicole Caceres, Border Grill chef/owner Mary Sue Milliken and C-CAP LA Director Mitzie Cutler (Photo courtesy LAUSD)
One winner, Nicole Caceres of John Marshall High School, received scholarships totaling over $55,000, and at the awards ceremony was able to collect another prize, which comes with an impressive bonus. Caceres' "Black Bean Mole Stew" not only won a $5,000 prize in a "Meatless Monday" contest, but is going on the menu at Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's Border Grill restaurants in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Las Vegas and the Canyon Ranch Resort/Healthspa in Arizona.

“I use food as a medium to express my artistic vision just like a painter might use watercolors,” Caceres told C-CAP.

Another top finisher, according to the LAUSD, was Banning High School Senior Glen Hernandez, who received a scholarship to attend Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y., which included a three-month stay in Rome where he will travel and prepare food. Hernandez says he hopes to follow in his father's footsteps and own a restaurant.

Cassidy Wong was the biggest winner among the dozens of her LAUSD student culinary colleagues who took home honors and help with their higher education; the Granada Hills student won a full ride to the prestigious Johnson & Wales culinary school, valued at over $100,000.

Congrats to all of the LAUSD culinary students who are on their way to cooking up a successful future!