Scholarships & Grants
In 2018, qualifying students took advantage of over $1,729,995.49 of grants and scholarships combined.
"I had the privilege to know the legendary Chef Gaston Lenotre, and Alain and Marie carried on the tradition of haute cuisine in a way that ensures we will always have new chefs being trained with high standards. Reading “Appetites” reminds me that there is no great food without great passion, and Marie is to be committed to tell her captivating story so passionately and honestly".
Gaston Lenotre Scholarship
In the past five years, Gaston Lenotre Scholarship has awarded $248,233 in scholarship money to qualified students. This scholarship can be up to $5,000 to those who qualify with a minimum of 6 months experience in the food service industry. To view more information about the Gaston Lenotre Scholarship, click here.
In-House Scholarships
-High School Merit Award
-Non Traditional Student
-Returning College Student
-Alumni Ambassador Circle Referral
-Out of Town/ Out of State
-Foreign Student
-Military Veteran
-Widow or Divorced Single Parent
-High School Culinary Competition
-4-H Regional Food Show Competition
-Texas High School Competition
-CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE® Chopped Team Competition
-Hardship Scholarship
External Scholarships
-Mercer Cutlery
-CIL Vendors
-The American Academy of Chefs (AAC) Scholarships
-Military Scholarships
-Escoffier Society Houston Student Scholarship
Gaston Lenotre Scholarship, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization works to raise much needed scholarship funds for deserving students who aspire to obtain a career in the culinary arts.
Gaston Lenotre Scholarship wants to ensure that the heritage of Chef Gaston Lenotre lives on and that his legend in gastronomy lives on by supporting “student-chefs” that strive for excellence.
The Scholarship Endowment was renamed in 2009, as a tribute to the man who was hailed as the world’s most famous pastry chef and caterer of our era. Chef Gaston Lenotre, who passed away on January 8, 2009 at the age of 88, taught his apprentices never to compromise on quality, to strive for perfection and to pass on the knowledge and skills of artisan craftsmanship to future generations.
Click here to learn about all our Scholarships and Grants.
New memoir shares insight into the success of one of Houston’s top culinary schools – All Proceed go to the Gaston Lenotre Scolarship Fund
The CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE®
Houston, Texas – Marie Lenotre’s story traces her journey through Greece and France, and finally settles in Houston, but not before providing a heartwarming love story and a reflection on life’s spiritual journey. Appetites begins with two story lines—the early life of Marie and that of her husband Alain—then melds into the story of the birth of their Culinary Institute. Marie weaves her personal and professional struggles together and writes passionately about difficulties in establishing the school, its eventual success, and the joy she finds in working with the students. Appetites shares Marie’s childhood dreams and adolescent struggles, the pains and joys of love in France, and the way she made the famous culinary name of Lenotre her own—and helped spread it across the globe.
I had the privilege to know legendary Chef Gaston Lenotre, and Alain and Marie carry on the tradition of haute cuisine in a way that ensures we will always have new chefs being trained with high standards. Reading Appetitesreminds me that there is no great food without great passion, and Marie is to be commended for telling her captivating story so passionately and honestly.
– Daniel Boulud, Chef-Owner
Marie Lenotre is the Founder and Director of the CULINARY INSTITUTE OF LENOTRE®, created with her husband, Alain Lenotre, in 1998. Marie has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Houston, a bachelor’s degree in Drama from the University of Athens, Greece, a master’s degree in Public Health Education, from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. Marie and Alain live in Houston and Galveston, Texas, and Ajaccio, France.
The CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE® adheres to the VA Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions serving service members, veterans, spouses, and other family members.
Resources and Links for VA, Active Duty and Reserve Students:
The Montgomery GI Bill®: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/
Texas Veteran’s Commission: https://www.tvc.texas.gov/
Employment for Veterans living in Texas: https://www.tvc.texas.gov/employment/veterans/
Retail Savings Guide for Veterans: https://www.couponchief.com/guides/retail_savings_for_veterans
The Texas Veterans Commission, National Guard, Reserve Military Personnel and Federal Branch Military Personnel may be eligible for tuition assistance from their active duty or reserve units.
If you are in one these categories, you should go to your nearest installation, base, reserve center or drill location and request to speak with the Base, Division, Naval Air Station or Company Education Officer to see if there are any funds available to allocate to your tuition assistance. The actual funds will be authorized from the Education Officer directly and given to the student.
The CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE® also offers a VA scholarship to those who qualify.
Don’t let money get in the way of making your dream come true. At CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE®, we have plenty of Financial Aid options and scholarships available. Chat with our dedicated team of advisors who will help you identify and understand what your financial aid options are and if you qualify.
Graduate Debt-Free with the Gainful
Employment Scholarship Matching Fund
CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE® is proud to present the Gainful Employment Scholarship (GES) Matching Fund: if you are a recipient of any outside/external scholarship(s), CIL will match the amount awarded to reduce your student loans. GES is valid to any active CIL student enrolled in an Associates of Applied Science (AAS). The program is designed to help our students graduate debt free from any Federal Direct Loans. The GES program will award recipients who have obtained an external scholarship and will honor those who have already been awarded. Click here to read more about it.
For More Information
Elsa Piña
Financial Aid Manager
-----713-358-5052----
Or Call us Toll-Free,
1.888.LENOTRE® (536.6193)