Maui Community College student Kevin Paz receives first A&B Culinary Arts Scholarship

Maui High graduate lives in Kihei

Maui College
Contact:
Katie McMillan, (808) 984-3549
Marketing and Community Relations
Meredith J. Ching, (808) 525-6669
Alexander & Baldwin Foundation
Posted: Jul 10, 2007

KAHULUI, MAUI - Kevin Paz, a resident of Kihei and student of the Maui Community College's Maui Culinary Academy, has been selected to receive the first Alexander & Baldwin Culinary Arts Scholarship award, which pays full tuition--and more--through an endowment funded by the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation. Paz just completed his second semester at Maui Culinary Academy and carries a double major in Culinary Arts and Baking. A 2006 graduate of Maui High School, Paz's dream is to own his own restaurant one day, after he has gained sufficient experience. He currently is deciding between culinary arts or pastry arts as the focus for his career as a chef.

Paz is the first recipient of the A&B Culinary Arts Scholarship and was selected from a group of 30 applications considered by a committee established by the College. The Alexander & BaldwinFoundation endowed the scholarship in March of 2006 with a $35,000 grant, in an effort to support Maui's home grown youth as well this growing program at MCC. This is the Maui Culinary Academy's first endowed scholarship. The A&B scholarship supports the full cost of tuition, books and supplies for one Culinary Arts student each year.

Paz manages to maintain a GPA of 3.66 while also working two jobs at Maui food and beverage establishments. Paz plans to work in Hawaii after graduating from the Maui Culinary Academy.

The scholarship selection committee was impressed by Paz's high degree of motivation and determination, as well as his dedication to his career goals. His professor Darryl Dela Cruz said, "I know [Kevin] is determined on graduating with honors by the way he performed in his classes. He is on his way to becoming a top student in the program and I feel he will be very successful in his professional career." Kevin's supervisor at one of his jobs, Joann Caterina, describes him as "exemplary."

Applications for next year's A&B Culinary Arts Scholarship will be accepted in early 2008. Scholarship eligibility requirements state that the student must be: a current resident of Maui County; a graduate of a Maui County high school, home school, or GED recipient; attending MCC on a hll-time basis; and in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.75.

The Culinary Arts program at the Maui Culinary Academy focuses on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed for success in the industry. Both Associate in Applied Science specialty degreesin Culinary Arts and Baking are fully accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation. The program has strong hospitality industry ties and serves as a primary source for skilled culinary arts professionals. For more information about the Maui Culinary Academy, visit www.maui.hawaii.edu or www.mauiculinary.com.

The Alexander & Baldwin Foundation is funded by the business activities of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and its subsidiaries. On Maui, they include Matson Navigation Company, A&B Properties, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S), and Kahului Trucking & Storage, Inc. (KT&S). For more information about the A&B Foundation, visit www.alexanderbaldwin.com.

For more information, visit: http://www.maui.hawaii.edu