Cheese Industry Scholarships

There are a number of industry scholarships available for members of the American Cheese Society community, offering enhanced educational opportunities in the United States and beyond. If you are a cheese professional looking for a great scholarship opportunity, we encourage you to check these out!

We hope this list is comprehensive. However, if you offer a scholarship for cheese professionals in the ACS community that is not included below, please contact us with details.

For more info, you can also find more info on the American Cheese Education Fund.

 

2021 Conference Scholarship

Thank you to Vermont Creamery for its generous donation that will fund 30+ scholarships for this year’s event as well as an additional 10 full scholarships through 2023. Full scholarships cover registration, travel, and lodging expenses to attend the ACS Annual Conference.

For the 2021 American Cheese Society Virtual Conference, ACEF will be granting multiple general scholarships as well as the Peterson Company Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement. Unlike years past, when there have been separate scholarships for cheese makers, retailers, students, chefs, this year there is just one application for anyone interested in receiving a scholarship, regardless of industry title. 

This scholarship is open to cheesemakers, retailers, chefs, students, and any other cheese professionals. Applications are ongoing and must include:

  1. Name, address, email address, and phone number.
  2. Resumé or a description of your last 3 jobs
  3. 2 short answers to the following:
    • How will attending the conference help your career development?
    • What is the session you are most excited to attend this year?

Applications closed on July 1st.  We will open new applications for 2022 later this year!

 

The Peterson Company Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement

The American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF) is thrilled to announce the creation of The Peterson Company Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement.

This annual scholarship will fund an Individual membership with ACS for the year, attending that year’s ACS Conference, including registration fees, hotel, and travel, and the fee to take that year’s Certified Cheese Professional® Exam.

Applicants must identify as a Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color and have been accepted to take that year’s ACS CCP™ exam.

Receiving a scholarship to the virtual conference this year does not preclude you from receiving a future scholarship to an in-person conference! This year’s winner of the Peterson Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement will automatically receive a full scholarship for the next in-person conference!

 

The Comté Association Conference Fund

The Comté Association Conference Fund is open to all applicants who have been accepted for the current year’s Certified Cheese Professional® (CCP) exam and seek to attend the American Cheese Society’s annual conference. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Funds will be used to cover the cost of one full conference registration per recipient.

 

Applications closed on July 1st.  We will open new applications for 2022 later this year!

 

Comté Scholarship for ACS CCP™s

The Comté Cheese Association offers the Comté Scholarship for ACS Certified Cheese Professionals® (ACS CCP™s). This special scholarship opportunity, open to all cheese experts who have passed the ACS CCP™ Exam, provides the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Comté region of France to learn first-hand about the cheese’s history and production, as well as to explore the Comté region and its culture. In addition, the winner will receive a $500 cash stipend.

Daphne Zepos Teaching Award

The Daphne Zepos Teaching Award (DZTA) is a $5,000 annual scholarship. The vision of the award is to grow a squad of cheese professionals who teach about the history, culture and techniques in making, aging and selling cheese. The scholarship is given to a food industry professional to further their learning—and their ability to educate others—about cheese. It’s named in honor of Daphne Zepos, one of America’s most inspiring cheese teachers. The winner returns to share their learnings with the cheese community — at the American Cheese Society’s Annual Conference & Competition and beyond.

Wisconsin Cheese Originals Beginning Cheesemaker Scholarship

Between 2009-2018, Wisconsin Cheese Originals awarded $21,500 in scholarships to help several Wisconsin artisans earn Wisconsin cheesemaker licenses. This includes at least one annual $2,500 and additional $500 awards to Wisconsin residents committed to pursuing cheesemaking as a career.