2025 Scholarship Winners

The Colorado chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier granted $4,500 in scholarships this year.

We are pleased to introduce you to our winners:

Hannah Stephenson

$2000 Recipient

• School: CSU, Ft. Collins
• Major/Program: Fermentation and Food Science GPA 3.7
• Career Aspirations and what the scholarship will go towards supporting:
  • My name is Hannah Stephenson, I’m a 25-year-old lady who is attending college following successfully completing my enlistment in the United States Air Force. I spent a year living in Pyeongtaek, South Korea and I fell in love with learning about traditional methods of pickling food. I also toured notable distilleries and breweries during my time there and I discovered my passion for homebrewing after joining the Pyeongtaek Craft Beer Society. Following that experience I decided to go to college at Colorado State University to learn everything I can about how to make fermented foods safely. Since I arrived here in Fort Collins I’ve been learning about yeast in both beer and bread production. I am currently experimenting with interchanging beer and sourdough yeasts. I hope that someday this degree in fermented food sciences leads me further into working with living yeast in other foods (but especially risen doughs). Also a focus on fermentation of cheeses.
• Accomplishments:
  In all of my years of school I have maintained a high GPA. I’m an attentive and driven student. I graduated in the top ten from the Korean Linguistics Program at the Defensive Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey. I was number one in the school during my time training on emergency airway rescue at Concorde Career College in Aurora, Colorado (in their Respiratory Therapy program). I received recognition many times at both schools, I just didn’t keep records of each achievement because I’m not the kind of person who ‘toots their own horn’. I just do my best 100% of the time as a way of life.

Citlalic Sanchez Snow

$1500 Recipient

• School: CSU, Ft. Collins
• Major/Program: Fermentation and Food Science GPA 4.0
• Career Aspirations and what the scholarship will go towards supporting:
  • I am completing a B.S. in Fermentation and Food Science, with a concentration in Fermentation Science and Technology at Colorado State University. This degree entails completing coursework in applied food fermentation, brewing science, sensory analysis, and operations management. As students, we are connected to fermentation science professionals who are experts in their fields. I selected this major based on my career aspirations. This major is also heavily science based, which is fitting for my personal interests. My career goal is to own and operate my own brewery and bar that would allow me to give back to my community. I’ve had this aspiration since 9th grade, developing from a research project. The course emphasized making informed choices related to academic, career, health, and lifestyle goals. At that point in my life I was most interested in mixology – with the idea of becoming a mixologist. Not only that, I would also own this bar where I sold the products that I personally created. I shared my interest in mixology with my cousin who is a student at CSU. She informed me about a Fermentation and Food Science major that had recently been introduced to the university at the time. Through this academic track, students would learn how to brew their own beer. With this opportunity to learn the skills necessary to pursue this goal, it was then that I chose this program at Colorado State University to complete my Bachelor of Science degree.
• Accomplishments:
  2024 Fall Semester National Residence Hall Honorary Certificate of Academic Excellence for 4.0 GPAFall Semester 2024 Dean’s List for the College of Health and Human Sciences at Colorado State University College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program IB Middle Years Program Certificate Recently nominated and accepted into National Society of Leadership and Success.

Ruby Lopez

$1000 Recipient

• School: CSU, Ft. Collins
• Major/Program: Hospitality GPA 3.5
• Career Aspirations and what the scholarship will go towards supporting:
  • I have chosen the hospitality industry because of my deep passion for creating memorable experiences for others. From a young age, I was drawn to the idea of making people feel welcome and valued, whether through personal interactions or through the spaces they inhabit. I see hospitality as more than just service; it’s about creating connections, understanding people’s needs, and making their lives easier and more enjoyable. The food service and hospitality industry provides the
    perfect platform for me to combine my interest in marketing with my love for hospitality. I am excited to build a career that will allow me to use my skills in communication, problem-solving, and creativity to make a positive impact on both guests and the hospitality industry as a whole.I chose this industry because it aligns with my values of inclusivity, respect, and service. I want to work for a well-known hotel brand like Hilton, where I can help create a welcoming environment and innovative marketing strategies that elevate the guest experience. As I continue to pursue my degree in hospitality management and marketing, I’m focused on blending my academic knowledge with real-world experiences to excel in this field. This scholarship would significantly ease the financial burdens I face, enabling me to fully dedicate myself to my studies, internships, and career development. It would allow me to gain valuable experience and skills that I can apply directly to my future role in the hospitality industry, helping me achieve my goal of becoming a marketing manager at a top hotel chain.
• Accomplishments:
  Dean’s List, Spring 2024Dean’s List, Winter/Fall 2024CSU National
  Residence Hall Honorary certificate for academic excellence (3.7 GPA) 2025 High Honors for 9th grade High honors for 10th grade High honors for 11th grade High honors 12th-grade. Actively participates in the immigrant community and on campus.