Wong “Lucky” Chong Memorial Culinary Arts Scholarship

Presented by Tribute Pizza & Friends of Wong '“Lucky” Chong

About the Scholarship

The Wong “Lucky” Chong Memorial Culinary Arts Scholarship honors the life and legacy of Wong “Lucky” Chong, a North Park icon who cooked at the corner of Grim and North Park Way for nearly five decades. His place was one of inclusion, where everyone was fed, and everyone was made everyone feel seen. He actually wasn’t a chef, but he lived hospitality. And he gave without asking.

This scholarship uplifts aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals who share that same heart: those who want to make people feel welcome, fed, and cared for through food and service.

Award

Up to three awards of $2,500 each
Open to students focused on culinary arts, hospitality, foodservice, or community food work

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to all applicants who meet the following criteria:

Reside in San Diego County
Are accepted to or currently enrolled in a culinary, hospitality, or foodservice training program, school, or apprenticeship
Have a strong personal connection to hospitality and the mission of this scholarship

We strongly encourage students who are part of underrepresented or historically excluded communities to apply. This includes (but is not limited to) those who identify as:

BIPOC
LGBTQ+
Immigrant or first-generation
Foster youth
Low-income
Formerly incarcerated

All applicants will be asked to describe how they are part of a historically excluded or underrepresented group, or how their personal background aligns with the spirit and mission of this scholarship.

Application Deadline: June 25, 2025. The deadline will be extended if we receive fewer than the required number of eligible applications by June 25. We strongly encourage you to apply early to ensure full consideration.

Please complete the form below

Name

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Mailing Address

Name of Culinary or Hospitality Program

Current Status of Culinary Education / Program

About You

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strongly encourage those who identify as underrepresented or historically excluded to apply. If applicable, please briefly describe how your background connects to the mission of this scholarship (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQ+, first-generation, foster youth, immigrant, formerly incarcerated, low-income, etc.).

Choose Your Essay Prompt #1

Choose one of the four prompts below and submit your responses (400 words minimum, 500 words max each). 1. Why do you cook, or, why do you serve? Tell us what hospitality means to you. What do you feel when you make food for others? What keeps you coming back to the kitchen? 2. What’s your dream menu, restaurant, or food space? Describe a restaurant, food truck, pop-up, or food community you’d love to build. What’s on the menu? Who are you feeding? What kind of experience do you want people to have? 3. Tell us about your culinary hero. Who inspires you in the kitchen? This could be a professional chef, a family member, a culture, or even someone who cooked for you when you needed it most. What makes them your hero? 4. Tell us how your background connects to this scholarship. If you identify as part of an underrepresented or historically excluded group (such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-income, immigrant, foster youth, first-generation, formerly incarcerated, etc.), how has your journey shaped your path in food, and what do you want us to understand about your experience?

Choose Your Essay Prompt #2

Choose a second of the four prompts below and submit your responses (400 words minimum, 500 words max each). 1. Why do you cook—or why do you serve? Tell us what hospitality means to you. What do you feel when you make food for others? What keeps you coming back to the kitchen? 2. What’s your dream menu, restaurant, or food space? Describe a restaurant, food truck, pop-up, or food community you’d love to build. What’s on the menu? Who are you feeding? What kind of experience do you want people to have? 3. Tell us about your culinary hero. Who inspires you in the kitchen? This could be a professional chef, a family member, a culture, or even someone who cooked for you when you needed it most. What makes them your hero? 4. Tell us how your background connects to this scholarship. If you identify as part of an underrepresented or historically excluded group (such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-income, immigrant, foster youth, first-generation, formerly incarcerated, etc.), how has your journey shaped your path in food, and what do you want us to understand about your experience?

Acknowledgments

I confirm this application contains only original, human-generated work. I understand essays will be screened using Turnitin and AI-detection software.

Yes

Acknowledgments

I give the permission to share my creative submission publicly and on social media.

Yes

Age

How old are you?

Wong “Lucky” Chong Memorial Culinary Arts Scholarship

About the Scholarship

Award

Who Can Apply

Please complete the form below

HOURS

CONTACT