The LoRusso Hospitality Award
Applicant must be either a high school senior seeking tuition assistance per the guidelines noted below in #1 or an employee of a family and/or locally owned and operated restaurant with minor children requiring a need as noted below in #2:
- A high school senior residing in the St. Louis metropolitan seeking to enroll in an ACF (Culinary Federation) accredited post-secondary culinary arts program and demonstrate a desire to continue studies in the field of foodservice and /or hospitality with an emphasis in cooking, baking or food and beverage.
-OR-
2. An employee of a family and/or locally owned and operated restaurant with primary headquarters in the St. Louis metropolitan area who have minor children with a need of tuition assistance, medical expense assistance, day care expense assistance or any documented need deemed acceptable by the Italian Open.
The LoRusso Hospitality Award Committee will review applications. If necessary, the award committee may interview the most qualified applicants whether in person, via video call or conference call. Applicants receiving this award will be notified, in writing via email, and presented the award at the IO annual dinner. Subsequently a check in the name of the award recipient will be made payable to the recipients accredited culinary program and/or minors assistance provider. With reference to tuition assistance, should there be any unused funds awarded by virtue of the recipient’s withdrawal from school, the school shall return the remaining funds to the IO.
Application must be filled out completely and have all appropriate signatures. For high school culinary applicants, a transcript release is attached, signed and given to the school. Restaurant employees are to write a letter explaining their minor child’s specific need. At least one letter of recommendation should be provided from the applicants’ school and/or present or past employers. Only those that have a complete application, transcript (if required), personal statement, and letter of recommendation on file with the Italian Open will be considered for this award. Immediate relatives of any Italian Open board member are not eligible for this award. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JUNE 15th.
