2006
Scholarship Recipients

Catherine Hinken, WSU Viticulture and Enology
Amanda Merkle, Seattle Culinary Academy
Melissa Peterman, Seattle Culinary Academy
Ann Shaughnessy, Seattle Culinary Academy
Maureen Stockman, Seattle Culinary Academy

Catherine Hinken

Catherine is our first Washington State University scholarship winner in the Viticulture and Enology Program. She graduated in December after finishing a seven month internship at Columbia Winery in Woodinville. She is a graduate of Inglemoor High School in Bothell. While at WSU she did an undergraduate research project conducting an astringency panel with Dr. Caroline Ross . With her Les Dames Scholarship, Catherine was able to participate in school clubs including serving as President of the Viticulture and Enology Club and Vice Chair of the Student Senate in the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences and others which help broaden her education.

Amanda Merkle

After graduating from the SCA culinary program in the spring of 2003 Amanda traveled to the Loire Valley to work with chef Dame Sally McArthur at her culinary school, Through the Kitchen Door. Since returning to Seattle Amanda has worked at Kaspar’s (co-owned by Dame Nancy Donier) and has continued to work with Sally McArthur, most recently in a consulting capacity in Washington D.C. Amanda will complete the Specialty Breads and Desserts program at SCA in March 2007. She plans to continue pastry work at Kaspar’s and looks forward to a summer of harvesting and working with fresh produce from the Doniers’ farm near Mt. Baker.

Melissa Peterman

Melissa graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in journalism before enrolling at Seattle Culinary Academy. In addition to being awarded a scholarship from Les Dames Seattle last fall, she also won a scholarship for food writing last year from Seattle Central Community College. Melissa has worked as a cook at The Ruins and Coco la ti da, and currently she is working for Tom Douglas Catering. Melissa also works with Dame Cynthia Nims as an assistant for recipe testing and other projects.

 

Ann Shaughnessy   

Ann shifted gears from financial planning to cuisine when she decided to attend Seattle Culinary Academy.  She was a top student in the specialty dessert and bread program at SCA, from which she graduated in  fall of 2006. She is currently serving as pastry chef and bakery manager for Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford. Her goal is to use the foundation of skills she gained at school to create noteworthy pastries (particularly her favorite, cupcakes) that will help satisfy Seattle's sweet tooth.

Maureen Stockman   

After spending over 20 years working in the world of photography, Maureen was given the opportunity to follow her life-long passion for food at Seattle Culinary Academy. During her schooling, she worked with and studied under some of the best- known chefs in the Seattle area including Kaspar Donier, Lisa Dupar, Leslie Mackie and Kären Jurgensen. She also has applied her culinary training to, and honed her skills at, numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the city. She hopes to continue to develop her skills and her palate by working in the catering arena, in addition to teaching basic cooking skills in private settings.