Recent Culinary Arts NOCCA Grad Receives James Beard Scholarship
Full-Day Academic Studio | Culinary Arts Student Receives $20,000 Scholarship
Louisiana’s arts conservatory, NOCCA is proud to share the news that recent graduate in Culinary Arts and its full-day school Academic Studio, Sierra Torres, is one of only ten students nationally to receive the 2016 James Beard Foundation Scholarship.
“Sierra is not only a great artist, but she is a good person who is bound for excellence in whatever she chooses to pursue,” stated NOCCA President | CEO Kyle Wedberg. “I am grateful for the James Beard Foundations support of this outstanding young woman and she will do incredible things at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and beyond.”
The James Beard Foundation National Scholars Program, aims to provide high-impact scholarships of up to $20,000 to food-focused candidates of exceptional talent. Candidates demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and academic excellence, and they should aspire to leadership roles in the culinary arts, food studies, hospitality management, agriculture, and more. Candidates are selected annually according to their academic merit and personal and professional recommendations. For more information on the foundation’s programs, outreach and support, visit their website, www.jamesbeard.org.
“I have been given so many opportunities to pursue my passion. Not many people can say that,” Sierra shared. ” And I cannot wait to give back to the next generation of chefs and farmers and the James Beard Foundation and so many other friends and family have done for me.”
Sierra will begin her studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst this month majoring in Sustainable Food and Farming.