Solo Foods Industry | Sokol Awards New Scholarship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2008

(Countryside, IL)--Sokol and Company of Countryside, IL recently awarded the new $2,000 Teresa Sokol Novak Scholarship to Latonya Black of Chicago. The presentation of the scholarship took place on May 1, 2008 at South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago.

The scholarship was for students attending Washburne Trade School’s program in Culinary Arts in Chicago.

“Applicants were judged on academic record, letters of recommendation and a personal interview,” said Bobby Paroubek, Product Manager at Sokol and a member of the selection committee. “Four candidates made it to the interview process but we believed that Latonya was the most professional, hard-working and dedicated student.”

Black is a current full-time student in Washburne’s Advanced Cooking and Culinary Program. She has applied the scholarship towards the next phase there, which is gardmanger (cold food preparation). Her goal is to become a research chef in a product development environment. “This is a terrific opportunity and I’m very grateful to receive this scholarship. The fact that Sokol is such an innovator in my field of interest makes it all the more special! ” she said.

The idea for the scholarship was born at a Washburne alumni association meeting that was held at Sokol. President John Novak, Jr. and Executive VP Ralph Pirritano, who knew the outstanding reputation of the Washburne school, attended the meeting and were so impressed with the alumni organization that they decided Sokol should sponsor a scholarship. They named it after the grandmother of Sokol’s president, John Novak, Jr., since she had served as an inspiration as the family business grew.

Sokol has provided food ingredients and cake and pastry fillings to the retail, industrial and food service industries for more than 100 years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bobby Paroubek, Product Manager/Executive Chef
Sokol & Company
(708) 579-6820