C-CAP Scholarship FAQs
 Here you’ll find answers to students’ most frequently asked questions. For more information, please contact your local C-CAP coordinator.
- What scholarships does C-CAP offer?
- How can I earn a C-CAP Scholarship?
- What is the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships?
- Who can apply to enter the C-CAP Cooking Competition?
- How can I find out if my school is C-CAP approved?
- Where can I get an application?
- What does the C-CAP Competition Application include?
- When is the application due and where do I send it?
- How do I find out if I’ve been accepted into the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships?
- What recipes must competitors prepare and how are we judged?
- How are the C-CAP Competition results determined?
- Do I need a certain grade point average (GPA) to receive a C-CAP Scholarship?
- How will I know if I’ve won a scholarship?
- How are students chosen to compete in the Preliminary Competition?
Q: What scholarships does C-CAP offer?
A: C-CAP offers two types of scholarships: post-secondary scholarships and cash scholarships. Post Secondary scholarships come directly from culinary schools and must be used for a specific culinary or hospitality program. These scholarships range from partial to full tuition. For an up-to-date list of our post secondary scholarships, please click here.
Cash scholarships come from C-CAP donors and must be used for culinary or hospitality school expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Students can use these scholarships for an education to any culinary or hospitality school of their choice. These scholarships range from $500 - $20,000. Please click here for a list of cash scholarship donors.
Q: How can I earn a C-CAP Scholarship?
A: You must apply and be selected to compete in both the preliminary and final C-CAP Cooking Competitions for Scholarships. Only competitors are eligible for the C-CAP Scholarships.
Q: What is the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships?
A: The C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships is a four-step competition in which high school students can earn scholarships to pursue post-secondary educations in culinary arts and hospitality. Students must be selected to participate in each of the following steps:
- C-CAP Application
- C-CAP Preliminary Competition
- C-CAP Final Competition
Q: Who can apply to enter the C-CAP Cooking Competition?
A: Applicants must meet ALL of the requirements below in order be eligible for the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships:
- Applicants must currently attend a C-CAP partner public high school or after school program
- Senior applicants must have taken one (1) culinary course at the C-CAP approved high school or after school program (includes the course you are currently enrolled in), two (2) courses is preferred
- Junior applicants must currently be enrolled in a culinary course
- Applicant must be a Junior or Senior in high school, or must be enrolled in a GED program, or must have passed the GED test
- All GED applicants must have their GED scores on or before the date of the final competition
- Applicant must be 21 years old or younger
Q: How can I find out if my school is a partner with C-CAP?
A: Please contact your local C-CAP Coordinator.
Q: Where can I get an application?
A: Please contact your culinary teacher or your local C-CAP Coordinator to receive a copy of the application.
Q: What does the C-CAP Competition Application include?
A: The C-CAP Competition application includes the following:
- 2009-2010 C-CAP Competition Application Form
- Personal Essay and Drafts
- High School Transcript
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendations and Recommendation Forms
- Media Release Form
Senior Competitors – additional requirements
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – All senior C-CAP competitors are required to submit a copy of their Student Aid Reports (SAR) to C-CAP on or before the final competition.
Q: When is the application due and where do I send it?
A: Contact your culinary teacher or your local C-CAP Coordinator to find out the due date of the C-CAP Competition Application and where to send it. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Q: How do I find out if I’ve been accepted into the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships?
A: Your local C-CAP Coordinator will notify both you and your culinary teacher at each step of the C-CAP Cooking Competition to let you know if you have been accepted to compete and move forward to the next step.
Q: What recipes must competitors prepare during competition?
A: C-CAP selects recipes to test competitors’ mastery of basic culinary techniques. Competitors must prepare these recipes from memory during the timed competitions.
Preliminary Competition
• French Rolled Omelet
• Tomato, Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad
• Knife cuts
Final Competition
• Poulet Chasseur avec Pommes Château (Hunter’s Chicken with Turned, Sautéed Potatoes)
• Crêpes à la Crème Pâtissière avec une Sauce au Chocolat (Dessert Crêpes with Pastry • Cream and Chocolate Sauce)
Q: How are competitors judged during the competition? What are they judged on?
A panel of industry professionals, culinary school chef instructors, and C-CAP staff observe competitors throughout the competition. The panel will judge competitors and their dishes based on the following criteria:
- Knife skills
- Technique
- Taste and appearance
- Safety and sanitation
- Organization
- Speed
- Professionalism
Q: How are the C-CAP Competition results determined?
A: Scholarship winners and scholarship matches are determined based on the following criteria:
- Responses on the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships Application
- Applicant’s performance in the preliminary and final competitions
- Applicant’s participation in C-CAP activities
- Applicant’s work experience
- Cumulative high school GPA
- Scholarship eligibility requirements (GPA requirements exist for select scholarships as determined by the donors)
- Final competition interview
- Applicant’s preferences as indicated in the competition application
- Need (as determined by the FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR))
**Please note: Based on the above criteria, C-CAP may find competitors best suited for a scholarship to a school not listed as one of their preferences**
Q: How will I know if I’ve won a scholarship?
A: All final competitors are invited to attend the C-CAP Scholarship Awards Ceremony in their local area where the scholarship results will be announced. Your local C-CAP Coordinator and your culinary arts teacher will notify you of the time and place of your local C-CAP Awards Ceremony.
Q: Do I need a certain grade point average (GPA) to receive a C-CAP Scholarship?
A: Some scholarships awarded by C-CAP require a minimum GPA as determined by the school or donor. However, C-CAP offers a variety of post-secondary and cash scholarships that do not have a GPA requirement.
Please note: C-CAP reserves the right to distribute scholarships as it deems appropriate. Check C-CAP Scholarships for a current list of C-CAP scholarships, scholarship values, and scholarship requirements.
*Photo credit: C-CAP student cracking egg at 2008 C-CAP Chicago Final Competition at Washburne Culinary Institute; photo taken by Tori Soper. |
