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Culinary Crossroads, in conjunction with the Ivy Tech Community College School of Culinary Arts, is pleased to announce the creation of the Chef Greg Hardesty Scholarship Fund. The scholarship serves as an ongoing tribute to Chef Hardesty, who passed away in the spring of 2021 and who left an indelible legacy through the training and mentoring many of Indy’s premier chefs.
The Culinary Crossroads Chef Greg Hardesty Scholarship is awarded annually to Ivy Tech culinary students who demonstrate talent, leadership and dedication to the craft of cooking. Working with the Hardesty family and Ivy Tech, Culinary Crossroads has established an advisory committee to review applications, interview finalists and provide unique mentorship opportunities to carry on Hardesty’s legacy for years to come.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to provide the launch pad for the Chef Greg Hardesty Scholarship Fund,” said Larry Dickerson, founder of Culinary Crossroads. “Each and every time we were looking for the best of the best in Indy’s culinary community, Greg’s name was at the top of the list. And each time we reached out to Greg for his insight, advice and participation, he stepped up. He cooked at our Spring Dinner Series in 2021, just a month before he passed away. Establishing this scholarship and committing our organization to growing the fund is the least we can do to honor someone who made such an incredible contribution to our culinary community.”
Hardesty’s wife, Susan Korte Hardesty, is involved in the selection of the advisory committee and scholarship recipients.
“Our family is so pleased with the idea of a scholarship to honor Greg,” she said. “It’s comforting to know there will be an ongoing commitment by Greg’s colleagues, friends and customers to carry on his approach to cooking, his passion for the industry and his love for the culinary community.”
A portion of the proceeds from the annual Culinary Crossroads Spring Dinner Series, a four-week series with some of Indy’s top chefs, has provided funds for the scholarship. Additional ongoing funding comes through ticket sales for the Culinary Crossroads Supper Club, a dinner series presented by Paramount Schools of Excellence in conjunction with Kelly’s Fund, a not-for-profit that supports the local food community.
Ivy Tech began accepting scholarship applicants in 2023, and the first two awards were made for the fall semester of 2023. The scholarships are open to students enrolled at the Indianapolis campus, and will be open to Ivy Tech’s five additional culinary school campuses as well. Ivy Tech Community College President Sue Ellspermann said the scholarship will help accelerate Ivy Tech’s commitment to the culinary arts.
“We are honored to be able to celebrate chef Hardesty, who guided his employees and colleagues to great professional careers,” said Ellspermann. “We look forward to celebrating the successes of future Hardesty Scholarship recipients and to the advancements that will come about through working with Hardesty Scholarship advisors.”
About Culinary Crossroads: 
Culinary Crossroads is a statewide branding initiative focused on spotlighting the people, products, places and services that define Indiana’s culinary community. In efforts to establish Indianapolis as the Food Sports Capital of America, the organization was instrumental in bringing the World Food Championships (WFC), one of the world’s largest food sports competitions, to Indianapolis in November 2024. Culinary Crossroads creates collaborative chef dinners in Indianapolis and around the state, supports charitable causes related to the culinary community and promotes Team Indiana competitors at the World Food Championships and other culinary competitions, including Skills USA at the high school level. More information is available at CulinaryCrossroads.org.
