ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods—one of America’s leading foodservice distributors— announced its 2024 class of US Foods Scholars. In a first for the company, US Foods expanded its signature US Foods Scholars program to applicants nationwide. This year’s class includes 18 impressive students who represent 10 schools from across the country and are pursuing 2- or 4-year post-secondary degrees in culinary arts, baking and pastry, chef training, or business management. Students will receive a scholarship of $20,000 to support their continued education, as well as development opportunities with US Foods culinary professionals.

“The US Foods Scholars program is a testament to US Foods’ commitment to helping our customers and communities Make It. Beyond helping our Scholars attain their degrees, this program ensures the culinary and hospitality talent pipeline remains strong for our industry and our customers,” said Dave Flitman, US Foods Chief Executive Officer, in a press release. “We’re honored to be a part of this incredible cohort’s journey and look forward to watching their future careers in the foodservice industry flourish.”

According to the National Restaurant Association, 45 percent of operators report that they need more employees to meet customer demand. The US Foods Scholars program launched in 2017 to provide financial support and hands-on learning opportunities to culinary and hospitality students seeking to bolster their academic and career development and to contribute a meaningful solution to the talent shortage facing the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Since its launch, the program has offered more than $2 million in scholarships to more than 100 students to help them achieve their educational goals and launch their careers. Currently, the program has more than 30 active US Foods Scholars working toward their degrees.

The US Foods Scholars program is administered with the support of Scholarship America and Careers through the Culinary Arts Program. All US Foods Scholars are selected through a formal application process. Each applicant is evaluated based on several criteria, including academic performance, financial need, and a personal essay.

To view the full list of 2024 US Foods Scholars scholarship recipients and learn more about the program, click here.

More industry news is on the way! Stick around!