Jada Roberts is a 2022 IFMA Education Foundation scholarship recipient. She attends the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY and is majoring in Food Business Management.
Jada’s story:
Looking back on my life, I have always had a passion for cooking. My family has been the single, biggest influence in my decision to attend culinary school. My parents, especially, have always pushed me to be the greatest that I can be in anything that I do. They are the ones that planted the seed for my love for cooking and food, nurtured this love, and helped it grow by constantly having me in the kitchen with them.
They are the ones that introduced me to the culinary program at my high school, and helped me perfect my application so that I could get in. They also drove me to all of the caterings that I wanted to do and let me go to any culinary event that I wanted to go to. This dream has constantly been growing, and it is my true passion in life.
When I graduate, I hope to be able to go back to Florida and work at The Boca Raton. This way, I would be closer to friends and family while doing what I love, which would help me a lot mentally. After that, I don’t know honestly. I still dream of opening my own restaurant or opening a non-profit that feeds quality food to the unfortunate.
How the scholarship will help Jada, in her own words:
I’m not going to beat around the bush, this school is incredibly expensive. One thing that has constantly been a struggle, along with classes sometimes, of course, is how to pay. I have been taking out loan after loan every semester, and have been applying for a lot of scholarships, but some semesters have been really hard.
COVID has taken a beating on all of us, and this financial burden was an even harder hit because of the pandemic. This scholarship will help take care of current and future financial burdens that I have with my school. I thank you for allowing me to be able to continue to do and learn what I love.
Jada’s program: Bachelor’s Degree in Food Business Management, Culinary Institute of America
Jada’s concentration: Mediterranean Cuisine: Exploring Cultures, Traditions, and Flavors
Graduation Date: April 2023
About The IFMA Education Foundation
The IFMA Education Foundation promotes the next generation of foodservice leaders. The Foundation is committed to giving qualified culinary, marketing or food science students support toward completion of education requirements. Over the years, we've accomplished our goal by providing scholarships, publications, educational programs, internships and stipends to accredited institutions and individuals enrolled in accredited institutions.
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