LoginJoin Bold.org
For DonorsFor Applicants
LoginJoin Bold.org
Get in touch
Donor Inquiries
donors@bold.org
Award Inquiries
awards@bold.org
Student Inquiries
contact@bold.org
Join 300k+ followers across
Donors
How It WorksBold FoundationDonor FAQTerms & ConditionsDonor Help Center
Applicants
Scholarship RulesScholarship BlogWinnersStudent Help Center
Get the app
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Scholarship Categories
Graduate School ScholarshipsNo-Essay ScholarshipsScholarships for Nursing StudentsMerit-Based ScholarshipsHigh School ScholarshipsScholarships for Black StudentsScholarships for WomenUndergraduate ScholarshipsScholarships for High School SeniorsExplore More Scholarship Categories
Company
About UsContact UsCareersPress CenterPartnershipsReviews
©2026 All Rights Reserved. Bold.org, Inc.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Personal Information

Larry Leon Irons Culinary Memorial Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Meagan Irons
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Next Application Deadline
Oct 26, 2023
Next Winners Announced
Nov 26, 2023
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Share
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school or undergraduate
Background:
First generation college student
Major/Career Field:
Culinary
Experiences:
Volunteer experience
Education Level:
Background:
Major/Career Field:
Experiences:
High school or undergraduate
First generation college student
Culinary
Volunteer experience

Larry Leon Irons showed an incredible love and dedication to the culinary arts. Larry had the opportunity to display altruism and touch many lives through baking and volunteering.

While he didn’t pursue higher education for a culinary degree, his love for the culinary arts and for education was always evident. Larry brought many people together, leaving lasting memories. As a way of honoring his aspirations and adoration for uplifting others, the Larry Leon Irons Culinary Memorial Scholarship will support students pursuing their passion for the culinary arts. 

High school students or undergraduate students pursuing a 2 or 4 year degree in the culinary arts are eligible to apply if they are first generation college students. Students with volunteer experience are encouraged to apply. In your application, write about why you are passionate about the culinary field, your culinary goals and share images of your recent culinary work.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Scholarships for High School SeniorsScholarships for High School JuniorsCommunity Service ScholarshipsScholarships for High School FreshmenScholarships for High School SophomoresScholarships for College SophomoresHigh School ScholarshipsCollege Freshmen ScholarshipsUndergraduate Scholarships
Scholarships for College Students
First-Generation ScholarshipsEssay ScholarshipsCollege Students ScholarshipsCollege Senior ScholarshipsCollege Junior ScholarshipsCulinary School ScholarshipsScholarships for Trade SchoolHospitality Scholarships
Published May 26, 2023
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Next Application Deadline
Oct 26, 2023
Next Winners Announced
Nov 26, 2023
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Share
Essay Topic

Please share why you are passionate about getting a degree in culinary and share images of your recent culinary work(s). Describe your culinary goals and your plans to achieve them. If applicable, please also describe any contributions made in your community through volunteering and how these efforts aid in why you believe you should be awarded this scholarship.

400–600 words

Winners and Finalists

November 2023

Winners
Christian Pimble
Fort Lee High School
Moon Twp, PA
Finalists
Jonathan Del Rio
El Paso Community College
El Paso, TX
Shannon Brown-Ruffin
Richard Bland College
Amelia Court House, VA

October 2022

Winners
Madelyn Gucciardi
Almont High School
Dryden, MI
Finalists
Anna Strickland
Edison High School
Haswell, CO

Winning Application

Christian Pimble
Fort Lee High SchoolMoon Twp, PA
Cooking has always been my passion ever since I could remember. I grew up around cooking from either family or watching cooking shows on the food network. When I was nine, I would always try to help my grandmother make a dish, but she wouldn’t let me. She thought I was too little, so I didn't really expand on my passion. Everything changed when my grandmother moved away, and the kitchen became free. My mother began to take on the household cooking and she allowed me to help. I would research recipes and we would cook them together. We cooked different dishes almost all the time and gradually my mother started to let me cook more without her help. Cooking became such a huge deal in my home that our family made a game out of the dinners we prepared. The best-tasting meal would win the Head chef for the week. It was a game I often strived to win since I was so eager to show off my creativity. My passion for cooking has helped me in several ways. It helps me focus on something that I am good at. My anxiety has nearly diminished because of it. It makes me feel great to see people happy because they have tasted one of my delicious dishes. Most importantly, it brought my family closer together. My culinary goals are to get my associate degree in hospitality and take culinary certificate classes. After that, I want to transfer to a culinary college to do two more years so I can get my bachelor's degree. While in college I would like to work in a kitchen as a line cook and gain experience in working in a busy atmosphere. I want to observe and learn from the head chefs I met during my journey so I can continue to strive. My dream is to one day open my own non-profit business in underserved communities that would provide healthy meals to seniors, free lunches for kids during the summer, and dinners for families during the holidays. I got this idea from volunteering at the nonprofit my mother works for. They do incredible work for people with disabilities, and it brought me joy to help people in need. My goal is to brand my nonprofit and open as many locations as possible around the country. My nonprofit would not only feed the community, but it would also offer free cooking classes where people can learn how to prepare delicious dishes without having to spend a fortune at a restaurant. The goal is to bring people and families together through their passion for cooking, just as it did for my family. This ties back into the now, to start a business, one would need to put themselves out there. I’m currently trying to grow my social media pages and share my passion. I also volunteer at events that have serving stations or need assistance with catering. I enjoy the fast-paced environment, and how they taught me to properly handle food and serve people. The best part is when I get to meet the chefs and taste the food. It motivates me even more to jump-start my journey. Receiving this scholarship is important to me because it would assist me in the beginning stages of my goal of attending culinary school. I am determined to work hard so that I can help the people around me. I believe the world needs more great chefs.
Madelyn Gucciardi
Almont High SchoolDryden, MI
The Culinary field itself has always been a passion for me. Since childhood, I have always had an interest in working in the kitchen, whether it be baking some cookies or trying out a new recipe. I decided that I wanted to pursue the culinary field during my freshman year of highschool. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to mainly focus on Commercial Baking and confections. My goal in life is to be a pastry chef in a high-end hotel or catering company. I want to be able to create complex and flavorful desserts that can be enjoyed by many. I want to make dining a complete experience for people rather than just a way to get energy. I believe that with the proper education I will be able to accomplish my dreams and excel in the culinary field. During my high school years, I have been taking a culinary arts program through my local technical education center. These classes served as an introduction to the culinary industry and taught me the basics in culinary arts, pastry arts, and hospitality and management. They have also served to give me career field experience. After I graduate, I plan to attend the Culinary Institute of Michigan. As of right now, I have been to the C.I.M. multiple times for competitions and summer camps. I competed in the 2022 SkillsUSA-Commercial Baking competition where I placed 6th at regionals and 9th at states, I also competed in an American Culinary Association competition for Commercial Baking where I placed 2nd. With the culinary experience that I currently possess, I am able to contribute and give back to my community. I volunteer to help with food services at charity events at my local country club and I bake confections and goods for bake sales and fundraisers at my local nature center. Whenever my church hosts an Advent tea for women in the community, I make sure to help out in setting up and tearing down. I complete 20 hours of community service yearly through the National Honor Society at my School. I also complete 170 service hours with my Girl Scout Troop as a part of the Governor's Honor Guard on Mackinac Island each summer. I am currently working to earn my Girl Scout Gold award by creating a children’s cookbook for kids in my community. I hope that with a professional education I will continue to be able to help my community in whatever ways necessary and that I will be able to positively impact others through my passion.

Explore All Kinds of Scholarships for All Kinds of Students

Graduate School ScholarshipsNo-Essay ScholarshipsScholarships for Nursing StudentsMerit-Based ScholarshipsHigh School ScholarshipsScholarships for Black StudentsScholarships for WomenUndergraduate ScholarshipsScholarships for High School SeniorsView all

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Oct 26, 2023. Winners will be announced on Nov 26, 2023.

How will scholarship application information be used?

Your privacy is a top priority on the Bold.org platform, and you can find our privacy policy in full here. You may opt out of communications from Bold.org at any time, and unless we’ve first notified you and gotten your consent, you’ll never receive communication from any third parties related to personal information you give us.

What is the scholarship award?

Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.

When will the scholarship winner be chosen? How will they be notified?

The winner will be publicly announced on Nov 26, 2023. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.

How will the scholarship award be paid?

Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.

How will my scholarship application be verified?

Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.

How should I get in touch with questions?

If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.

Does the scholarship have terms and conditions?

Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.

97% of students don't win scholarships. We’re here to change that.
Start Winning
$43,051,294
LIVE
Awarded to Bold.org Members
user profile avatar
Joseph Olson
Won $2,500 scholarship
47m ago
Alexander Hipple Recovery Scholarship