Rouxbe Global Food Group
The Dawn J. Thomas Memorial Scholarship
Every quarter, one student receives complete, tuition-free access to the entire Rouxbe catalog for 12 months. No prerequisites. No application fee. No geographic restrictions. Just your words and your passion for food.
About the scholarship
Named for the woman who taught a million students
Dawn J. Thomas co-founded Rouxbe in 2005 because she believed that great culinary instruction should be available to anyone who wanted to learn. A graduate with honors from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, she became the creative engine of Rouxbe and the voice behind nearly every video we ever produced.
She spent her career making that belief true, one video, one student, one beautifully taught technique at a time. Through her eyes, everything was a thing of beauty. This scholarship is named for her.
"Through her eyes, everything was a thing of beauty."
Our mission is simple: remove the financial barrier to culinary education and invest in the next generation of culinary professionals, one voice at a time.
Accessibility
Great culinary education should not be limited by financial circumstance.
Merit through expression
Applicants are evaluated on the authenticity of their voice, not academic pedigree.
Legacy
Every recipient carries forward Dawn's belief that food connects, heals, and transforms.
Craft
Rouxbe's commitment to content excellence extends to how this scholarship is run.
The award
What you receive
One recipient is selected every calendar quarter. The award covers tuition in full.
The full catalog, free for 12 months
Complete, tuition-free access to every course in the Rouxbe catalog from the date your award is activated.
Professional certifications
Eligibility for certification tracks recognized by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation and WorldChefs.
College credit pathways
Where available, coursework eligible for college credit through Rouxbe's academic partnerships.
A personal course plan
An introductory session with a Rouxbe student services advisor to build a plan around your goals.
A formal letter of award
Signed by Rouxbe's CEO and the Selection Committee Chair, suitable for your professional portfolio.
Recognition, if you want it
Optional public recognition on the Rouxbe website and in our communications. Decline and the award is unchanged.
What the award does not include
- Cash payment or monetary equivalent.
- Guaranteed employment or internship placement.
- College credit is pathway dependent and subject to the policies of the receiving institution. Rouxbe will facilitate but cannot guarantee credit transfer.
How to apply
Write us an essay
The essay is the entire application. Submit between 1,000 and 1,250 words responding to this prompt:
Why do you want to build a life in the culinary industry, and what do you believe food can do for the people around you?
Essays outside the word count range will not be considered. There are no other formatting requirements. Professional writing experience is not a criterion. Write in whatever voice is yours. We are looking for a genuine voice, not polished prose or AI.
Write
1,000 to 1,250 words on the prompt above.
Send
Email your essay with your name, contact details, and country of residence.
Hear back
Receipt is confirmed within 24 hours. Every applicant is notified of the outcome.
Selection
How the recipient is chosen
One recipient is chosen each quarter by the Dawn J. Thomas Memorial Scholarship Selection Committee, chaired by Joe Girard, Co-Founder of Rouxbe. Each member reads every eligible essay independently before the committee meets.
Academic credentials and prior culinary experience are not criteria. Winners are announced within 30 days of each calendar quarter start date, and all applicants are notified of the outcome.
Your essay qualifies for two consecutive quarters from the quarter it is received. After that you may resubmit a revised or new essay to re-enter the pool. There is no limit on the number of times you may apply.
Review criteria, weighted equally
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Authenticity
Does this read as a real voice, told honestly?
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Clarity of purpose
Is there a clear sense of where you want to go and why?
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Depth of connection to food
How deeply does food figure into the life you describe?
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Quality of writing
Is the essay clear and well organized? Polish is not the point.
Deadlines
Four cycles a year
Submissions are rolling and open year round. An essay received in any quarter automatically carries into the next one if it is not selected.
January award
Submit by December 31
April award
Submit by March 31
July award
Submit by June 30
October award
Submit by September 30
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Any individual 18 years of age or older.
- Open worldwide, regardless of nationality, location, or culinary background.
- You do not need to be enrolled in a culinary program or institution.
- Applicants who were not selected in a previous cycle are welcome to resubmit.
- Current Rouxbe employees and immediate family members of Selection Committee members are not eligible.
Send us your essay
Email your essay along with your name, contact details, and country of residence. We confirm every submission within 24 hours.
scholarship@rouxbe.com"She saw cooking as an act of love. So do we."