Les Dames d'Escoffier Washington, DC Regional Chapter
Thank you for your interest in applying for a scholarship from Les Dames d’Escoffier Washington, DC Regional Chapter.
Les Dames d’Escoffier is committed to supporting the professional studies and advancement of women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. Scholarships awards are based on financial need, achievements, experience, and potential for success in the culinary industry.
The Chapter’s scholarship funds are administered by the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Awards are given with the chapter’s approval to women of promise from the Baltimore-Washington area who have been accepted to programs at the CIA. Please send us an email at scholarships@lesdamesdc.org with a subject line of Scholarships and we will provide further details.
Les Dames d’Escoffier is committed to supporting the professional studies and advancement of women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. Scholarships awards are based on financial need, achievements, experience, and potential for success in the culinary industry.
The Chapter’s scholarship funds are administered by the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Awards are given with the chapter’s approval to women of promise from the Baltimore-Washington area who have been accepted to programs at the CIA. Please send us an email at scholarships@lesdamesdc.org with a subject line of Scholarships and we will provide further details.
2023 Scholarship Recipients
The Scholarship Committee selected two women who attend the Culinary Institute of America to receive scholarship awards. Here’s a snapshot about each of these inspiring women (coincidentally both named Morgan), excerpted from their thank-you letters to our chapter.
Morgan Fitzhugh
Primary Residence: Magnolia, Delaware
Degree: Bachelor’s in Culinary Science, 2025
Career goal: Pursue a role in research and development. (She’s currently doing an externship at McCormick & Company.)
Thank you: “My short-term goal while attending culinary school is to step out of my comfort zone,” wrote Morgan. “I want to expose myself to everything I can while getting the best education possible…I am beyond excited to see my future and could not be more grateful for your support.”
Morgan Nelson
Primary Residence: Washington D.C.
Degree: Bachelor’s in Food Business Management with the Culinary Arts track, 2025
Career goal: “My ultimate goal is to open an upscale fine dining restaurant focusing on soul food cuisine,” wrote Morgan.
Thank you: “I am a hard-working girl from DC, hoping to make something of myself. Unfortunately, paying for college is super expensive overall. I am more than grateful that I was blessed with this opportunity to help relieve my mother of the financial burden. She wants nothing more for me than to chase my dreams,” Morgan wrote. “This scholarship has changed the game for my family and me…I hope you continue to bless other women looking to make something of themselves. I cannot thank you enough.”
2022 Scholarship Recipients
Rose Picard
Primary residence: Hopewell, Va.
Degree: Bachelor in Applied Food Studies with a concentration in advanced concepts in baking and pastry, expected graduation 2023.
Background: Rose has had a distinguished career as an Army chef, including a tour in Iraq, membership in the Fort Hood Culinary Arts Team, and a stint at the Pentagon’s Army Executive Dining Facility. She medically retired from the service in 2020.
Career goal: Update her skill set and one day teach at a university.
Thank you: Given her physical challenges, Rose writes that “this scholarship will help me tremendously. It will allow me to not have to work while attending school…It will also take a lot of the financial burden off my husband and pay for the expenses that come up while attending college. Without the help of this scholarship, I don’t know if I’d be able to continue.”
Primary residence: Hopewell, Va.
Degree: Bachelor in Applied Food Studies with a concentration in advanced concepts in baking and pastry, expected graduation 2023.
Background: Rose has had a distinguished career as an Army chef, including a tour in Iraq, membership in the Fort Hood Culinary Arts Team, and a stint at the Pentagon’s Army Executive Dining Facility. She medically retired from the service in 2020.
Career goal: Update her skill set and one day teach at a university.
Thank you: Given her physical challenges, Rose writes that “this scholarship will help me tremendously. It will allow me to not have to work while attending school…It will also take a lot of the financial burden off my husband and pay for the expenses that come up while attending college. Without the help of this scholarship, I don’t know if I’d be able to continue.”
Jayla Settles
Primary residence: Bear, Delaware
Degree: Bachelor in Food Business Management with the baking and pastry arts track, expected graduation 2024.
Background: A third semester student, Jayla has always had a passion for the kitchen; summer stays at her great aunt’s house sparked her love for food, especially baking.
Career goals: Open her own establishment and become the entrepreneur her state needs.
Thank you: “The Les Dames d’Escoffier DC Chapter Scholarship saved me,” Jayla wrote. “Towards the end, I started to panic and thought I’d have to take out another loan, but this scholarship came at the right moment and saved me a headache and my mother’s heartache…Investing in me is a gift because it shows that people in the world want others to succeed.”
Ayvah Sweeney
Primary residence: Morgantown, West Virginia
Degree: Bachelor in Food Management with a focus in culinary arts, expected graduation 2024.
Background: In May 2021, Ayvah graduated from Morgantown High School and the ProStart program (a nationwide restaurant and hospitality industry training program for high schoolers) with several awards and honors. The out-of-pocket expense of attending the CIA is extremely high for Ayvah, so to help save money before enrolling, she worked two jobs (at a restaurant and as a private chef).
Career goals: Open a restaurant and offer jobs to those who have experienced hardship and offer programs focused on community enrichment.
Thank you: “This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies, dreams, and goals. I will be able to continue my college journey knowing the financial burden is lessened,” Ayvah wrote. “I am beyond grateful and thankful to be chosen as a scholarship recipient. This scholarship means more than I can adequately express in words.”
Primary residence: Morgantown, West Virginia
Degree: Bachelor in Food Management with a focus in culinary arts, expected graduation 2024.
Background: In May 2021, Ayvah graduated from Morgantown High School and the ProStart program (a nationwide restaurant and hospitality industry training program for high schoolers) with several awards and honors. The out-of-pocket expense of attending the CIA is extremely high for Ayvah, so to help save money before enrolling, she worked two jobs (at a restaurant and as a private chef).
Career goals: Open a restaurant and offer jobs to those who have experienced hardship and offer programs focused on community enrichment.
Thank you: “This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies, dreams, and goals. I will be able to continue my college journey knowing the financial burden is lessened,” Ayvah wrote. “I am beyond grateful and thankful to be chosen as a scholarship recipient. This scholarship means more than I can adequately express in words.”
2021 Scholarship Recipient - Julia Letke will be graduating in August 2022 from the Culinary Institute of America with a bachelor’s in Food Science.
2019 Scholarship Recipient - Arielle Lofton is an alumna of The Culinary Institute of America with years of experience in restaurant operations. Having a passion for serving local communities, she wanted to learn more about what it takes to make more sustainable, equitable, and healthy places for us all to live and enjoy. She currently attends the School of Professional Studies at George Washington University majoring in Sustainable Urban Planning. So far, she’s worked for various local and national organizations gaining experience in supporting wildlife and environmental conservation efforts with geographic information systems (GIS), community engagement through helping manage a county-wide community garden program, and providing technical assistance and research for projects focused on transportation and land-use development initiatives. She is passionate and excited to continue learning more about the planning world and serve on the Executive Food Systems Division Board of the American Planning Association.
2018 Scholarship Recipient – Leah Leonard – is currently the produce manager at Wegman’s in Columbia, Maryland.
Here's a recent update from Leah: Hello! I want to start off by saying thank you again to Les Dame d’Escoffier for their incredible generosity that helped secure my ability to finish completing my bachelor’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America. I just surpassed three and a half years of working at Wegmans and most recently have had the opportunity to be a Produce Manager. My current role has given me a unique opportunity to see another sector of the food industry and has helped further develop my product knowledge. I have been able to work with multiple of the family partner farms that are in the ‘Near Our Stores’ program to help support their business as well as proved fresh and local produce to Wegmans customers. In addition to working with the farmers I have had the opportunity to learn about the seasonality of various products and the most effective way to highlight the best in season items to the public through knowledge-based service. Lastly, in August I am excited to begin a yearlong Leadership University course through Wegmans that will include a project designed to benefit the local community in order to further develop my leadership skills.
Here's a recent update from Leah: Hello! I want to start off by saying thank you again to Les Dame d’Escoffier for their incredible generosity that helped secure my ability to finish completing my bachelor’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America. I just surpassed three and a half years of working at Wegmans and most recently have had the opportunity to be a Produce Manager. My current role has given me a unique opportunity to see another sector of the food industry and has helped further develop my product knowledge. I have been able to work with multiple of the family partner farms that are in the ‘Near Our Stores’ program to help support their business as well as proved fresh and local produce to Wegmans customers. In addition to working with the farmers I have had the opportunity to learn about the seasonality of various products and the most effective way to highlight the best in season items to the public through knowledge-based service. Lastly, in August I am excited to begin a yearlong Leadership University course through Wegmans that will include a project designed to benefit the local community in order to further develop my leadership skills.
Our chapter’s past scholarship recipient Ashleigh Pearson opened a chocolate shop, Petite Soeur, in Georgetown (fall 2021) at 1332 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Pearson, who received a Dames scholarship in 2015 to attend Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, has built up an all-star resume with stints at Marcel’s and Thomas Keller’s Per Se. Read the feature about Ashleigh in DC Eater.
Here's another read from the Washingtonian Magazine.