Cooking Up Joy Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Budget Branders

Food, in all its delicious variety, is a universal thread that connects us all. It not only satiates our basic need for sustenance but also serves as a medium for social interaction. Just as a recipe is a blend of diverse ingredients, food has the power to unite people from all walks of life.

At Budget Branders, we are passionate about the transformative power of food. Our commitment to this belief is reflected in our business of providing custom disposable takeout products to restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Our range includes custom plastic cups, paper cups, deli containers, napkins, wax paper sheets, sandwich bags, paper bags, coffee cups, coffee sleeves, and more. We understand that food is a source of joy, comfort, connection, and healing. We also recognize the pivotal role restaurants play in communities, serving as social hubs and a home away from home. Our aim is to contribute to this community-building process by facilitating the distribution of delectable food.

While dining out offers the pleasure of chef-prepared meals, it can be a strain on the wallet if done daily. Hence, we believe in the importance of fostering a connection with food through home-cooked meals, just as much as enjoying a meal at a local eatery. This belief led us to establish the annual Cooking Up Joy Scholarship, aimed at encouraging students to cultivate healthy cooking habits and discover the joy and connection to food that we have cherished for years.

Details of the Cooking Up Joy Scholarship

The Cooking Up Joy Scholarship is a yearly $1,000 scholarship designed to motivate students to invest more time and effort into their daily meals and foster a lifelong bond with food. We understand the joy that food brings, especially in challenging times, and we are eager to see the joy that students can create through their culinary endeavors.

Participants are required to cook a dish of their choice, adding their unique touch to it. They must take a photograph of their creation and provide a write-up detailing the ingredients, cooking instructions, and the reason behind their choice of dish. There are no restrictions on the length of the write-up or the type of dish. Participants can cook or bake:

• A complete meal
• An appetizer
• A side dish
• A dessert
• Or anything else

Please note that we do not require the actual dish to be sent to us (it would not be edible by the time it arrives). We only need a photograph of the dish. Entries will be evaluated based on presentation, creativity, and the attention to detail in the write-up.

Eligibility & Application Process

The Cooking Up Joy Scholarship is open to all US citizens who are full-time students at a university, college, or trade school in the United States. The scholarship is not limited to culinary students and is open to students from all majors, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above to be eligible. Along with their dish, students must also submit a completed scholarship application form. All application materials should be sent to david.kranker@budgetbranders.com by August 31st. The application should include:

• A completed scholarship application form
• A photograph of the cooked dish
• A write-up describing the dish, the reason for choosing it, the ingredients, and the cooking instructions
• A certified copy of the student’s academic transcript

Scholarship Award

• The Cooking Up Joy Scholarship recipient will be awarded $1,000, which can be used towards tuition fees and other educational expenses.
• The $1,000 award will be issued in the form of a check made payable to the recipient’s school.
• The application deadline for the scholarship is August 31st. The winner will be notified via email by September 30th.
• By accepting the scholarship, the recipient gives Budget Branders the right to use the submission content, the recipient’s name, the recipient’s school, and/or photographs of the above for promotional purposes on the company’s website and other marketing materials.