For High Schoolers

Enter our scholarship competitions and summer programs for high school students!

Summer Institute: Class of 2026

Each year, Walnut Hill College presents its Summer Institute for high school juniors. You’ll get a taste of what our students experience during Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, and Management classes catered just to you. For three days, you’ll learn about exciting career options within restaurants and hospitality, participate in fun off-campus events, and meet other students who are just as passionate about the industry as you are.

COMPETITIONS

Every spring, Walnut Hill College holds its very own in-person Culinary and Chocolate Competitions to discover and recognize rising talent among high school students. Each competition is open to seniors in high school who have applied and been admitted to the college. The competition is separated into two divisions: high school and vocational-technical school.

The Culinary Arts Competition challenges students to cook chicken and one side dish using an array of ingredients provided in our kitchens. While everyone receives the same chicken recipe, each student must create their own side dish without using a printed recipe on competition day. This twist to the competition really brings out the inventive cooking ideas we love to see!

For our Pastry Arts Competition, all of the students must bake a chocolate cake at home in advance of the competition. What sets each cake apart is the extraordinary design work that each student puts into his or her confection! Whether they choose to design a simple but elegant cake or go all out with a multi-colored, multi-layered masterpiece, the students are encouraged to be creative.

Each division of the Culinary and Chocolate Competitions awards scholarships to three winners in the amounts of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,500 to be used toward tuition at Walnut Hill College. The high school of the first-place winner in each division also receives $500 for its Family and Consumer Science Department or Culinary Arts Program.

To qualify to register for the competitions, please complete an application for admission and speak with your admissions counselor.