The Max Cares Foundation is interested in helping students who wish to pursue a career in the culinary and/or hospitality industry. If you are looking to attend or currently attend a culinary arts or hospitality school and wish to apply for our scholarship award (up to $5,000), please do so below.

Max Cares Foundation is delighted to award twelve scholarships to recent high school graduates and currently enrolled college students that are pursuing an education in the fields of culinary arts and hospitality management.

The total amount of scholarships distributed to students drawn from the Greater Hartford and Springfield areas is $30,000.

The 2025 Max Cares Foundation Scholarship recipients and their schools are:

The 2025 Max Cares Foundation Scholarship recipients are:

Madison Bertrand enrolled at Johnson and Wales

Taylor DeMaio enrolled at Johnson and Wales

Samantha Lowe enrolled at Holyoke Community College

Jack Mehlman enrolled at Culinary Institute of America

Simeon Night enrolled at Connecticut State Community College at Manchester

Janiyah Rosado enrolled at Johnson and Wales

Reise Saavedra enrolled at Johnson and Wales

Evan Salemi enrolled at Connecticut State Community College at Manchester

Lauren Shea enrolled at University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management

Eric Sirard enrolled at Johnson and Wales

Jackson Smith enrolled at Johnson and Wales

Samara Thadison enrolled at Johnson and Wales

TO THE STUDENT:

We are no longer accepting applications for 2025. Please check back next year.

Materials must be received by May 15, 2025 and include the following:

1. Student’s fully completed application.
2. Student’s school transcript. A minimum 2.5 GPA required (or show progress towards improving GPA).
3. A typed essay of between 250 – 500 words describing why you are applying for this scholarship, your affiliation with the culinary and/or hospitality industry, if any, and your career goals.
4. A letter of recommendation from an educator, counselor or employer. Family members are ineligible.

All materials submitted will be held in strict confidence and become the property of the Max Cares Foundation.

Please complete the fillable application form below and submit online. Upon receipt, we will contact you with directions on how to send the additional required materials electronically.

OR

Please download and complete the application form below and submit by mail along with the additional required materials to:

Max Cares Foundation, Inc
C/O Ruben/Horan, P.C.
249 Pearl St, 3rd Floor
Hartford, CT 06103

ELIGIBILITY:

1. Student must be a high school senior in good standing, eligible for graduation the same year as the scholarship application and seeking to earn a secondary degree in Culinary Arts or Hospitality oriented programs OR a student in good standing currently enrolled in a secondary Culinary Arts or Hospitality oriented program
2. Student must be a resident of or attend high school in greater Hartford County, Connecticut or greater Springfield, Massachusetts area.

See list of eligible towns/cities below.

USE OF SCHOLARSHIP:

1. May be used at any properly accredited college, university, or trade school providing training in Culinary and Hospitality fields.
2. Must be used within 12 months of this grant.
3. May be used to defray tuition, supplies, room or board. Max Cares Foundation reserves the right to pay the institution directly.

This scholarship is provided for one-time use only. No continued scholarship support for the student is stated or implied. However, application may be submitted year by year as applicant sees fit.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

The Foundation will give consideration to the following criteria in making a final selection:

1. Desire for career in the Culinary and/or Hospitality Industry.
2. Employment record and extra-curricular activities.
3. Need based on information obtained in the application and interview, if held.
4. Scholastic record.

Applicants must be resident or attend high school in the following
Towns/Cities in the Greater Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA regions