High School Students Win 38 Cooking School Scholarships/San Fernando Food & Wine Festival at L.A. Mission College

(Photos by Ed Krieger: Irene Gutierrez - West Adams High School, The Gourmandise Full-Tuition Pro Pastry Series 1 & 2 Scholarship Winner; Adrian Gonzalez - L.A.C.E.S. (Meatless Monday Winner); Belen Gallardo - Pacifica High School, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship Winner ; Dishes on display ready for judging; Irene Gutierrez -West Adams High School The Gourmandise Full-Tuition Pro Pastry Series 1 & 2 Scholarship Winner; Luz Lopez - Pacifica High School, Lee Ann and Melvin Jacobs Foundation Scholarship and Alice M. Hart/Food for Film Stylists Scholarship Winner)

On their way to become the next Master Chef, 38 culinary students from Los Angeles County public high schools were awarded scholarships to further their education at the C-CAP Los Angeles Cooking Competition for Scholarships at Los Angeles Mission College on April 28, 2017.

Students participated in on-the-spot sweet and savory cooking challenges, designed to mirror the real time intensity of a restaurant atmosphere, where they were judged on presentation, knife skills, techniques, food taste, sanitary food handling and timeliness.

$682,700 in scholarships and opportunities was awarded to high school seniors who plan to attend some of the most prestigious culinary schools locally and throughout the country. Some students also received C-CAP Education Scholarships to help pay for their books, supplies, housing, and other expenses while at culinary school.

In 2016, CCAP raised over $7 million in donated scholarships, merchandise, services, supplies, and contributions last year and provided $7,488,654 in Culinary arts education, after school programs and job development funds, as well as collage advising and teacher training programs.

Students were judged by a panel of local esteemed judges on the presentation of their dishes,
knife skills, techniques in the kitchen, taste, sanitary food handling, and timeliness.

Some of the scholarship Judges included Chef Gretchen Beaumarchais of Legends Hospitality,
Katteryn Hernandez, Sr. Operations Manager, LA LIVE and a C-CAP Alumna, Jayro Martinez, Chef de Cuisine Mh Zh, a C-CAP Alumnus, Jonathan Melendez, Food Photographer, Blogger of The Candid
Appetite, a C-CAP Alumnus, Chef Aaron Robbins of Boneyard Bistro and Soca and Chef Jet Tila, Judge for Cut Throat Kitchen and Author of 101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die.

Area school districts with participating high schools included Acton-Agua Dulce,
Baldwin Park, Glendale, William S. Hart Union High, Los Angeles Unified, Oxnard United High, Pasadena Unified and Rowland Unified.

Los Angeles Mission College and Foundation will also host their annual San Fernando
Food & Wine Festival fundraiser this weekend, Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 4 - 8 p.m.

The festival will feature dishes from around the world prepared by the college's students, as well
as wine tasting, a silent auction, pastry pavilion, and live entertainment by local artists.

Over 300 individuals from our students to faculty and the local business community will be working together
to provide "an incredible gastronomic event."

Los Angeles Mission College Foundation festival fund-raiser aims to provide scholarships to deserving
students. The Foundation raises funds through annual scholarship drives, grant applications, business partnerships, and events like the festival, in their goal to "provide a local financial support system to needy and deserving students entering and continuing their education at the college."

Tickets are $35 for students at the student store, $65 for general public, and $150 for VIP to include
exclusive wines and dishes.

The college and festival are at 13356 Eldridge Avenue in Sylmar. For more information and tickets visit
www.sfvfw.com. For more information on Careers through Culinary Arts
Program (C-CAP) and their scholarship programs visit www.ccapinc.org.