Award-winning chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph and the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce have partnered with Austin Community College District (ACC) to launch the Bristol-Joseph Scholarship Foundation. The foundation offers culinary scholarships to ACC students and includes financial support, guidance, and mentorship.
“The greatest accomplishment that I feel like I achieved is being able to help students that are looking for guidance, looking for a little bit of advice, mentorship, all the things I wish I had in Culinary school. I’m very happy and I'm very proud to be able to offer that,” says Bristol-Joseph. “I am ready to take these students and move forward in the best way we can and change our community and change our industry for the better.”
“We are honored and humbled to partner with Tavel. He understands the mission of ACC and our goal to make college available to everyone,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “Together, we’re eliminating barriers and transforming the higher education landscape. Through Foundations and support like his, we can not only help a student pay for college but also prepare them for those next steps after they graduate.”
Applications are now being accepted. The Foundation will provide $12,000 for two scholarships. Recipients will receive financial guidance and a mentorship program where they work side-by-side with Bristol-Joseph.
Bristol-Joseph is co-owner of five restaurants in Central Texas, including Austin’s critically acclaimed Emmer & Rye. The pastry chef moved to the United States from Guyana when he was 17 years old to attend New York Restaurant School. Bristol-Joseph received StarChefs’ Rising Star Award in 2017 and was selected as one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs 2020.
Culinary students interested in applying are encouraged to speak with an ACC advisor or apply online. Qualified students will have a one-on-one interview with Bristol-Joseph. Applications are accepted through May 14. Recipients will be announced in July.
About ACC’s Culinary Arts Program
ACC’s Culinary Arts program is led by a faculty of expert chefs. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science: Baking and Pastryand Associate of Applied Science: Culinary Arts. The programs recently expanded to ACC Highland Campus, Building 2000. The new space features five state-of-the-art kitchens, advanced equipment, and an expanded student-run restaurant that will be open to the public — Eatery 73. Click here to view photos and read more.
To learn more about the Culinary Arts program, visit austincc.edu/culinary.