Before Amanda Hesser and Sara Moulton were culinary luminaries, they were savvy students whose hard work and future promise won them access to a prestigious Les Dames scholarship.

Since 1977, we have awarded more than $2 million in scholarships—many in partnership with corporate benefactors— to over 1,000 recipients, graduating from such prestigious culinary schools as:

Congratulations to Our 2024 Scholarship Winners

Each July, LDNY’s Annual Scholarship Awards and Gala Reception is the culmination of the intense, focused work of the Scholarship Committee—the primary liaison for all participating schools and scholarship donors—which carefully reviews and assesses dozens of applications.

The Scholarship Awards Gala is attended by past and present award winners, partnering school directors and counselors, corporate benefactors and partners, as well as our members and their guests. It’s a festive and memorable celebration highlighting the vital mission of encouraging and growing our industry’s future leaders and forging important connections.

LDNY awarded over $80K in scholarships in 2023 to 19 talented women from our partner schools and C-CAP.

Having a mentor in the early stages of one’s career is key to professional and personal growth. LDNY’s Mentoring Program begins immediately after scholarships are awarded, when the Mentoring Committee reviews and matches each recipient to a Dame in her chosen career field. Whether a mentee experiences a “Day in the Life” at their mentor’s place of business, or through a series of meetings and valuable conversations, she receives career-building guidance. It’s during this time that many life-long relationships and career-making connections are formed.