Past Scholarship Recipients

Janelle Vidal

Janelle was among the first four year graduating class of 2017 at Rancho Mirage High School where she completed four years of the culinary program under Chef Howard Merrick. Janelle was one of the student chef volunteers to assist at the LDEI Bites & Sips event held at PIRCH which raised money for our scholarship recipients. Janelle attended and graduated with honors from UCLA in 2021 and is currently working as a program specialist at USC Division of Environmental Health.

Tiffani Bowman

Tiffani Bowman graduated from La Quinta High School in 2015 where she was actively involved in the culinary program for four years. She catered many private events and also volunteered at public events such as the Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival. She earned an internship at the Palm Valley Country Club where she learned the inner workings of a commercial kitchen and all that is required to coordinate an event. Tiffani attended and graduated from the College of the Desert in 2019 and continued her studies at Cal State San Bernardino with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management in 2021. Her hope is to pursue her master’s degree in Business Management. Tiffany is currently working as a Food and Beverage Shift Manager at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. Her plans for the future are to continue her career path in Food and Beverage and to become a Food and Beverage Director.

Victoria Bowman

Victoria Bowman received her AA degree in culinary management in 2016, with plans to open her own restaurant and catering business. Continuing her education online at the art institute of San Diego to obtain a BA in culinary management.
“ I have always wanted to cook to make people happy looking at the enjoyment on their faces”.
Victoria's sister Tiffany is following in her sisters but foot prints at COD maybe one day the sisters will open a restaurant together.

Lindsay Jordan

Lindsay-Nicole Jordan attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and graduated with as Associates Degree in Culinary Arts in 2016. After graduation, she moved to West Palm Beach, Florida to work at the Four Seasons Resort.

"My reason for majoring in Culinary Arts are unique to me. I am the oldest of four children and was always in the kitchen with my mom. I have always had passion for being in the kitchen and honestly could not see myself doing anything else."