Press Release

Chefs Announce Scholarships to Honor Julia Child

St. Augustine, Fla., August 18, 2004—The American Academy of Chefs (AAC), the honor society of the American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), announced five scholarships of $1,000 each as tribute to cooking doyenne Julia Child.

Child, who died August 13 at 91, was a member of AAC’s Hall of Fame, an elite group of 62 individuals recognized for extraordinary contributions to foodservice and the culinary profession throughout a lifetime. Child was an active member of ACF since 1988, when she joined ACF Santa Barbara Chapter and later received honorary lifetime membership in the federation. She was inducted into AAC as an honorary member and named to its Hall of Fame in 1996.

John Minniti, CCE, chairman of AAC, said ACF and the culinary community have lost one of its luminaries.

“Julia Child was inducted into the American Academy of Chefs’ Hall of Fame, not only because of her expertise as a culinarian, but also because of her desire to share her culinary knowledge and skills with the American public,” Minniti said. “She introduced French classical cuisine to the American kitchen in a manner that was both entertaining and easily understood by her audience. She was also one of the first female chefs to distinguish herself in what was then a predominantly male-dominated profession. Her passion for the joy of cooking and sharing will be forever missed.”

Applicants for the one-time AAC/Julia Child scholarships must be exemplary students enrolled in one of nearly 250 postsecondary schools in the United States and Europe with ACF-accredited training programs, or another postsecondary culinary- or pastry-training program of stature; have completed at least one grading or marking period (trimester, semester or quarter); and pursue a professional-chef or pastry-chef career track.

Applications and criteria are available online at www.acfchefs.org or by calling (800) 624-9458, ext. 102, or e-mailing lhowell@acfchefs.net. Recipients selected by the AAC Scholarship Committee will be announced by September 30, 2005.

In addition to Child, honorary members of the AAC Hall of Fame are: Anthony Bartolotta; L. Edwin Brown; Hans Bueschkens; Dr. Morris Gaebe; Bill Gallagher; Burton Hobson; Graham Kerr; Lt. Gen. John D. McLaughlin; Dr. L.J. Minor; Paul Prudhomme; Walter E. “Spud” Rhea, CMPC, CEC, CCE; Dr. Thomas Ryan; and Martin Yan.

Inducted members of AAC’s Hall of Fame are: Joseph Amendola, CEPC, CCE; C. Orby Anderson, CEC; Darrell Anderson, CEC, CCE; John L. Bandera, CEC; U. Max Behr, CEC; Pierre Berard; Peter Berrini; Eugene Blumenschein; Abel Bomberault; Richard Bosnjak, CEC; Jack Braun, CEC; Harry Brockwell, CEC; Emile Burgermeister; Charles Champion; Jean Clary, CEC; Alec Cline, CEC; Lawrence A. Conti, CEC; Joseph Donon; Eugene Ertle; Amato Ferrero, CEC; Charles Finance; Albert Fries; Baron H. Galand, CEC; Otto Gentsch; Jon Greenwalt, CEC; Henry Haller, CEC; Claude Jarrin; Stanley B. “Doc” Jensen, CEC, CCE; Paul Laesecke; Raymond Marshall; Ferdinand Metz, CMC; Robert H. Nelson, CEC, CCE; Edouard Panchard; Paul Pantano, CEC, CCE; Edmund Repucci, CEC; Rene Roncari; Willy Rossel; Hans Roth, CEC; Hermann Rusch; Roland Schaeffer, CEC; Dr. Louis Szathmary; Charles Scotto; Casey Sinkeldam, CMPC, CEC; Oliver H. Sommer, CEC; Otto Spielbichler; Jack Sullivan; Johannes Verdonkschot, CEC; and George Waldner.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., observing its 75th anniversary in 2004, establishes and upholds the highest standards of cooking and enhances the culinary profession internationally through education, certification and a fraternal bond of respect and integrity.

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Contact: Lisa Alessandro, APR
(904) 824-4468, ext. 103
lalessandro@acfchefs.net

• Chefs Announce Scholarships to Honor Julia Child