Culinary Receives $20,000 for Scholarships

The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute will begin awarding scholarships in the fall to full time culinary juniors and seniors who have completed the restaurant course, are from either Lafourche or surrounding parishes and work in the food industry.

The local chapter of TaWaSi, a civic club whose mission is to contribute to worthy projects, schools and charities in the area, donated $20,000 to the Nicholls State University Foundation with the intent to create an endowed scholarship in culinary arts at the University.

“By making this donation, we hope to inspire future chefs, promote the program and show our support for Nicholls,” said Cathy Stack, TaWaSi director.

The organization wanted to give back to the program for all the volunteer work students have done over the past three years, said Chef John Kozar, culinary department head and associate professor.

The scholarship will open every fall for qualifying students and will carry over to the spring semester as long as a student continues to meet all eligibility requirements.

“A scholarship like this, $500 per semester, makes all the difference in the world to students as they finish up their degree,” said Kozar.

TaWaSi donated an extra $1000 for a student who completed the required restaurant course to have for the remainder of the fall and the spring.

Sydney Bouldin, a senior culinary major from Nashville Tennessee, has worked twice, both for class and as an official employee, in the completely student-run Bistro Ruth on campus.

“I know the school and everyone in the bistro were grateful they honored us with this scholarship fund,” Bouldin said. “It is neat to see the working relationship we have with each other.”

“The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and the graduates they produce are so important to the region,” said Stack.

TaWaSi is a civic club whose name comes from an Indian word meaning friends or helper.

The civic club has an annual antique show in which they fundraise a large portion of its profit for the year. Nicholls culinary students have worked the opening dinner for the event in recent years.

Kozar says it’s a great opportunity for students to experience a catered buffet and TaWaSi gets to use the new culinary facilities for their event.

Although this is not TaWaSi’s first time donating money to the University, it is the first time the funds were allocated specifically to culinary.

In addition to beginning a $50,000 endowed scholarship for Thibodaux students in 2003, the organization has provided grants to surrounding schools, food banks and other programs that make a positive impact on the local community.

Patrons interested reserving a seat at the Bistro can call (985) 493-2700 between 8a.m. and 4:30p.m., Monday through Friday.