Aarón Sánchez Scholarship - Class of 2026 Application

Thank you for your interest in applying for the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship.

To complete an application, you will first be prompted to answer an eligibility questionnaire. This section will assess your eligibility to apply for the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship. If you meet the program's eligibility requirements, you will continue on to the Application. If you do not meet the program's eligibility requirements, you will be led to an end screen.

The application will ask questions about you, your employment history, your education and more. Once you start the application, you are unable to save your work.

We recommend that you have the following information available when you begin the process:

Demographic information including an emergency contact, your household income, and social media profiles.
Employment history (company names, employment dates, job titles and descriptions)
Education history (school names, completion dates, areas of study, etc.)
Names and contact information for the individuals that will submit letters of recommendations in support of your application.

You will also be asked to answer the following questions. You may wish to think about how you will answer these questions before starting the online application:

Describe a hardship you have faced and how you have overcome it.
Why have you chosen a career in culinary arts?
Why do you want to attend the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute?
What is something you have achieved through determination?
What does community mean to you?
How do you engage with and support the Latino community in your professional &/or personal life?
How have your background, family traditions, cultural influences, or personal experiences shaped your passion for food and your goals in the culinary field?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What is your favorite thing to eat and where do you get it?
What is your favorite thing to cook and why?
What inspires you?
What challenges you?
Describe your work ethic.
What five words would friends use to describe you?
Who is your hero and why?

Lastly, supporting documents must be emailed before the application deadline to jen@chefaaronsanchez.com.

Required Supporting Documents:

Submit a photo ID such as a driver’s license or state ID for proof of residence and age.
Submit a copy of your high school diploma or GED, and any post-secondary school transcripts (if applicable).
Submit a minimum of three (3) but not more than five (5) letters of recommendation from a foodservice employer or culinary arts instructor that you have worked and/or studied with. Note: A letter from an additional instructor or another type of employer or community leader will be accepted if you have not worked with a foodservice employer; no family members.
Familiarize yourself with the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute’s Culinary Arts Certificate Program prior to applying: https://www.nochi.org/certificate.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

Note: You may submit documents for your application in stages, meaning you do not need to have everything ready all at one time. However, your online application and all supporting documents must be received before the deadline. Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Jennifer Killian
Director, Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund
504-913-5980 (cell)
jen@chefaaronsanchez.com

Good luck!