Awards

Career Achievements

The honor of an American Culinary Federation (ACF) award proves skill, knowledge and professionalism in the culinary industry and can further your recognition as a qualified chef. These awards represent the highest honors ACF can bestow.

2018 Award Winners

• USA’s Chef of the Year – Todd Leonard, CEC; Utah Valley University
• Pastry Chef of the Year – William Racin, CEPC; The Duquesne Club
• Chef Educator of the Year – Leonard Bailey, CEC; SW Indian Polytech Institute
• Chef Professionalism Award– Kevin Brennan, CEC, AAC; Detroit Athletic Club
• Student Chef of the Year – Julio Chavez; University of NY at Delhi
• Hermann G Rusch Chef’s Achievement – Wolfgang Geckeler, CEC, AAC, HOF; Atlantic City Rescue Mission
• Student Team of the Year – Fox Valley Technical College; Regina Hueckman, Morgan Vanden Langenberg, Grace Claussen, Gage Dawiedczyk and Kirk Reilly

Award Categories

National Awards - Application Deadline September 30, 2018

A brief description of each award, eligibility requirements and online nomination forms are available below.

• U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year™ Award
• ACF Pastry Chef of the Year Award, co-sponsored by Plugrá European Style Butter and CÉMOI Chocolate
• ACF Student Chef of the Year Award, sponsored by Libbey
• ACF Chef Educator of the Year Award
• Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor’s®
• ACF Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award
• ACF Chapter Achievement Award

Presidential Awards

• 2019 ACF Presidential Medallion
• 2019 ACF Achievement of Excellence
• 2019 ACF Cutting Edge

Chapter Awards

• Chapter Medal Order Form