Ryan Wells Foundation Scholarship

Geographic Scope: Pinellas County, Florida

Focus Areas: Post-secondary education in culinary arts, baking and pastry, and hospitality fields

Background: The Ryan Wells Foundation strives to identify passionate Pinellas County students and invest in their continued education. Student scholarships for post-secondary education in culinary arts and hospitality represent 50-60% of the foundation's annual funding. From 2006 to present, the foundation has awarded scholarships to 176 high school students in Pinellas County totaling $1,267,000.

Award Details:

• Scholarship amounts range from $500 up to $20,000, with most starting at $6,000
• Scholarships are dispersed over a 2-year or 4-year period to ensure student graduation and long-term success
• Students must enroll in a post-secondary institution within 1 year of high school graduation
• Scholarship funds can be used for items billable by the institution

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be:

• High School Status: Graduating high school senior OR dual-enrolled student at Pinellas Technical College (Clearwater or St. Petersburg campus)
• Course Requirements: Completed 3 or more semesters of culinary or hospitality courses at one of the following schools: Dixie Hollins High, Northeast High, Osceola High, or Tarpon Springs High (OR 6 months of dual enrollment at Pinellas Technical College)
• Academic: Minimum 2.5 GPA
• Activities: Extracurricular and volunteer activities are highly valued
• Post-Secondary Enrollment: Must enroll in any post-secondary institution for culinary, baking and pastry, and/or hospitality within 1 year of high school graduation

Matching Opportunities:

• Johnson & Wales University: Scholarship may be matched up to $5,000 per year
• Art Institute: Scholarship may be matched up to $5,000 per year
• Keiser University: Scholarship may be matched up to $3,000 per year

Notable Outcomes

In a 2013 survey, 18 out of 24 scholarship recipients had graduated or were currently earning degrees in culinary or hospitality fields from institutions including:

• Culinary Institute of America
• Johnson & Wales University
• University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality

Degrees awarded include Baking and Pastry, Food Service Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, and Event Management.

Industry Partnerships

The foundation partners with:

• Johnson & Wales University - annual scholarship matching
• Keiser University - annual scholarship matching
• Chef Chris Ponte (Cafe Ponte) - offers annual scholarship award of $5,000
• Pinellas Education Foundation - houses all scholarship funds and disperses directly to student institutions

Contact Information

info@ryanwellsfoundation.com

For application issues: Susan Al-Abed at al-abed@pinellaseducation.org

How to Apply

1. Visit the Application Portal: Go to https://pinellaseducation.awardspring.com/
2. Complete Online Application:
   • Applications can be saved and reopened to finish later
   • After completion, you will be presented with a list of scholarships you meet criteria for
   • The Ryan Wells Foundation Scholarship should appear in your list if eligible
   • If not listed, contact Susan Al-Abed at al-abed@pinellaseducation.org
3. Submit Additional Materials by Deadline:
   • Submit via email to: info@ryanwellsfoundation.com
   • Or mail to: The Ryan Wells Foundation 3636 Woodridge Place Palm Harbor, FL 34684

Required Materials

• Name, Home Address, Phone Number, and Email Address
• College Plans Statement: 1-2 sentence statement outlining your college plans, including:
  • What post-secondary institution(s) you intend to apply to
  • What degree(s) you are seeking to earn
• Essay: 300-word essay on your future plans in the culinary or hospitality industry
• Letters of Recommendation: 1-2 letters from:
  • A teacher, employer, or another adult familiar with your culinary and/or hospitality skills
  • NOT accepted: Letters from school chef instructors or immediate family members
• Interview: Must complete a friendly face-to-face interview with a Ryan Wells Foundation board member for final consideration

Timeline

• Recommendation: Begin application process minimum 3 weeks prior to deadline
• Deadline: January 17 at 11:59pm each year
• Note: No exceptions to deadline