Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, and NAACP ACT-SO (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics), a major youth initiative of the NAACP that is a year-long achievement program, awarded top culinary competition students scholarships to attend the Culinary Institute of America. Gold medal winners from local competitions tested their skills against peers during the 41st Annual National NAACP ACT-SO competition and awards ceremony held in Detroit, Michigan July 18 – July 21.
ACT-SO was designed to identify, encourage, reward and showcase the academic and artistic achievements of high school students of African descent. ACT-SO provides students with an opportunity to work with professionals in their area of interest.
Students receive mentoring and coaching from Sodexo chefs to create and develop individual projects for local competitions. Sodexo and ACT-SO have had a long-standing partnership since 2009 when the idea to develop the Culinary Arts Competition Category was initiated. It nourishes the culinary talent among high school students, from inner-city schools nationwide. In 2015 Sodexo was approached by ACT-SO to support them in adding a Hospitality category. These students build a team of three or four and develop a business plan on a new concept related to Hospitality.
ACT-SO has impacted thousands of students nationwide. “Each year we look forward to working with the many talented high school students interested in the culinary arts and hospitality fields. With the support of our leadership and mentoring efforts of Sodexo chefs we strive to create opportunities for students to challenge themselves to express the best of their talent” said Sodexo VP of Global Diversity and Inclusion Lourdes Diaz. “In partnership with CIA and NAACP ACT-SO, we are able to nurture an ongoing relationship among the students and inform them about all of the career opportunities they can enjoy within our company- nationally and internationally.”
Approximately 200 programs are sustained by ACT-SO nationally, providing a platform for professional and educational enrichment that has proven to be an impactful model for creating a pipeline to successful careers.
Sodexo partners with the Culinary Institute of America to provide scholarships to winning students. To date, more than $300,000 in scholarships and educational credit have been awarded to culinary and hospitality students.
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2019 NAACP ACT-SO Competition Winners
Culinary
Hospitality
Gold
Kelise Tyler
Olathe East High School
NAACP Kansas City Chapter
Tionne Marks
Victoria Matson
Kamille Johnson
Talor Brisco
Westside High School
Project name: Mad Batter
NAACP Houston Chapter
Silver
Leslie Montenegro
Bladensburg High School
NAACP Prince George’s County Chapter
Zion Hawkins
St. Michaels Archangel High School
Neymara Freeman
Summer Academy of Arts & Science
Taylor Drummer
Lincoln College Preparatory School
Trevell Walker
Blue Springs South High School
Project name: Paws and Claws
NAACP Kansas City Chapter
Bronze
Mylesha McCardell
Northside High School
NAACP Houston Chapter
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About Sodexo North America
Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 150,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $32 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit SodexoUSA.com, SodexoInsights.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
