Cooking Up Joy Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Budget Branders

In both our high and low moments, one universal constant brings us together: scrumptious food. Beyond satisfying a fundamental human need, wholesome meals also serve as a platform for social engagement and interaction. Using the metaphor of recipes that blend diverse ingredients, food has the power to unite diverse individuals from various backgrounds.

At Budget Branders, we have a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of food. Our passion for food is why we ventured into providing restaurants, bars, and coffee shops with customized disposable takeout items like personalized plastic cups, paper cups, deli containers, napkins, wax paper sheets, sandwich bags, paper bags, coffee cups, coffee sleeves, and more. We recognize the myriad benefits food offers, such as joy, comfort, bonding, healing, and beyond. Moreover, we understand that restaurants serve as community pillars – creating a space for social gathering and offering a home away from home. We aimed to contribute towards strengthening this pillar and facilitating the enjoyment of delectable food.

Despite the undeniable tastiness of professionally prepared meals, we are aware that dining out every night could strain your budget. Thus, establishing a relationship with food through home-cooked meals is as crucial as enjoying a dish from a local eatery. This realization inspired us to launch the annual Cooking Up Joy Scholarship, aimed at encouraging students to cultivate healthy cooking habits and cultivate their own connection to food, just as we did years ago.

Introduction to the Cooking Up Joy Scholarship

The Cooking Up Joy Scholarship is a yearly $1,000 award designed to motivate students to invest more time and effort in preparing everyday meals and foster a lifelong bond with food. We know that food can bring happiness, something that is sorely needed in the current times, and we are excited to see what kind of happiness students can cook up.

Students are required to prepare a dish of their choice, adding their unique touch to it. They should take a photo of their creation and write a brief description of the ingredients, cooking instructions, and the reason behind their choice. There are no restrictions on the length of the write-up or the type of dish. You could prepare or bake:

• A complete meal
• A starter
• A side dish
• A dessert
• And so on

We do not require you to send us your cooked dish, nor would we want you to (it would not be fresh upon arrival). We only need a photo of your dish. Entries will be evaluated based on presentation, creativity, and the attention to detail in the write-up.

Who Can Apply & What's Needed?

The Cooking Up Joy Scholarship is open to all US citizens enrolled or about to enroll in a full-time program at a university, college, or trade school in the United States. It's not limited to culinary students; any major, both undergraduate and graduate students, can apply. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above to be eligible. Along with presenting a dish, students also need to submit a filled-out scholarship application form. The following materials should be emailed to david.kranker@budgetbranders.com by August 31st.

• A filled-out scholarship application form
• A photograph of the prepared dish
• A write-up describing the dish, why it was chosen, the ingredients, and the preparation instructions
• An official copy of the student’s academic transcript

Scholarship Award Details

• The Cooking Up Joy Scholarship winner will receive $1,000 towards school tuition and related educational expenses.
• The $1,000 check will be issued to the recipient’s school.
• The scholarship application window closes on August 31st. The successful applicant will be notified via email by September 30th.
• By accepting the scholarship, the recipient allows Budget Branders to use the submission content, the recipient’s name, the recipient’s school, and/or any photos of the same for the company’s website and other promotional materials.

Scholarship Submission Deadline

Please note, all scholarship materials must be emailed to david.kranker@budgetbranders.com by August 31st. Any submissions received after August 31st will not be eligible.