Four foodservice educators from across the United States were recently honored as the best in their field in the 2015 CAFÉ/Sysco Corporation Educator of the Year Awards at the 11th Annual Leadership Conference of the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education in Niagara Falls, NY.

Sysco is in the first year of supporting this annual award, which acknowledges the tremendous industry contributions of foodservice instructors throughout the United States. The recipients—who received endorsements from their administrators, program and industry colleagues, and former and current students—are trained chefs with commercial work experience prior to teaching. They also are distinguished by their respective professional certifications and industry honors.

Postsecondary Educator of the Year—Annmarie K. Chelius, CHE, CCE, CWPC, chef-instructor, Atlantic Cape Community College Academy of Culinary Arts, Mays Landing, N.J.

Runner-up, Postsecondary category—Adam Weiner, CFSE, director of culinary training, JobTrain, Menlo Park, Calif.

Secondary Educator of the Year—Faith Jennetta, CEPC, coordinator and baking instructor, Culinary, Pastry Arts & Hospitality Management, Technology Center of DuPage, Addison, Ill.

Runner-up, Secondary category—Matthew Williams, culinary-arts team leader, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, Upton, Mass.

Each category’s top recipient received a $1,500 grant. All four recipients received a commemorative plaque from Sysco Corporation and complimentary full registration to the 2015 CAFÉ Leadership Conference at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute in Niagara Falls, N.Y., June 18-20.

“Sysco is pleased to be part of honoring the educators who train the professionals who, in turn, will shape the future of American dining,” said Neil Doherty, Sysco’s director of culinary development. “These four educators are among the foodservice industry’s unsung heroes. They wield immense influence to ensure that the foods we enjoy away from home are of high quality and prepared expertly and safely. By sharing their knowledge and skills, foodservice educators spur innovation and interest on featured menus in every industry segment—from catering, healthcare and higher education to fast casual, casual upscale and fine dining, as well as in the realms of nutrition and research and development.”

Deadline to apply for 2016 CAFÉ/Sysco Corporation Educator of the Year Awards is April 1, 2016 (postmarked). Awards will be presented at the 12th-annual CAFÉ Leadership Conference at Kendall College in Chicago next June. Complete application info will post at www.CafeMeetingPlace.com in upcoming months.