Three Cheers for Three Scholarship Winners!

At the heart of every great dish is a great chef—and at the heart of Chefs for Kids is a great visionary. There’s no doubt that our organization wouldn’t be where it is today without the generous spirit and passion of Michael Ty. It was Michael who first had the idea to start this nonprofit, and he gathered a few other people, known collectively as our founders, to turn that idea into a reality. For the next 30+ years of his life he remained a steadfast supporter of our organization until his passing in 2022. Michael always gave with a humble, open heart, and his family continues his legacy of giving and volunteerism to this day.

The Michael Ty Culinary Award was created in his honor to provide academic financial aid to the next generation of culinarians in Southern Nevada. This year at our Dinner & Auction #33, we were honored to present three very deserving recipients with the Michael Ty Culinary Award. 

These culinarians have not only excelled in the classroom and kitchen, but they’ve also shown a deep commitment to our mission by volunteering at Chefs for Kids’ Cookin’ Up Breakfast events. 

Each student received $2,500 to support their education at UNLV or the College of Southern Nevada, along with generous gift cards from State Restaurant Equipment.

Meet our inspiring 2025 recipients:

Adam Jacob is a 20+ year Air Force veteran who now finds his passion in life through cooking. He says “I believe every chef is a living cookbook with recipes to share on cooking and more importantly, how to navigate life’s kitchen.” Currently attending CSN while interning for Sodexho Live at the Las Vegas Convention and World Market Centers, his short-term career goals are to work in a large-volume kitchen or banquet environment. But his long-term aspirations are to lead the future generations of culinarians as a teacher at the high school or college level.

Genesis Enriquez is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in culinary arts at CSN while also studying Hospitality Management with a concentration in Event Design at UNLV. Her passion for cooking began at a young age when she promised to open a bakery for her mother, a promise that continues to fuel her determination in her culinary career. Her ultimate goal is to open venues that host catering events, including weddings, sweet sixteens, bat mitzvahs, and quinceañeras, while also preparing for a future in law school.

Joseph Snyder is a familiar face as he was one of the inaugural recipients of this award last year. Now a sophomore at UNLV, Joseph is continuing to excel in his culinary aspirations for a career as a food & beverage manager in a luxury country club. He is currently a supervisor of Hospitality College Catering and also serves as the President of the Club Management Association of America.

These students represent the future of hospitality and the spirit of service that Michael Ty embodied throughout his life. Their hard work, passion, and dedication are a testament to the impact that one person’s legacy can have on an entire community.

If you’d like to help support future chefs in achieving their dreams, consider making a donation to the Michael Ty Culinary Scholarship Fund. Your gift can help ignite a lifetime of opportunity for a student who is ready to serve the world—one plate at a time.

Donate now to support the next generation of culinary leaders.