Washburne pastry chef receives grant from food marketing agency

Laura Vaughn, pastry chef-instructor at Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago, received a $1,500 grant from Olson Communications' second annual Chefs of Tomorrow initiative, a grant program open to culinary educators throughout metro Chicago.

(from l to r): Sharon Olson, Olson Communications; grant winner Laura Vaughn; and Rachel Tracy, Olson Communications

A jury consisting of Dr. Albert L. Furbay, retired founder of Kendall College School of Culinary Arts; Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC, executive chef of Union League Club of Chicago; and Judith Dunbar Hines, director of culinary arts and events for Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs selected Vaughn as the winner. She will use the grant to purchase the $1,500 entry to the World Pastry Forum to take place June 30 to July 6, 2010, in Phoenix.

Olson Communications, in celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2008, has committed to offering up to $20,000 in new grants to Chicago's high school and college level culinary educators through 2012 through the company's Chefs of Tomorrow program.