Daniel Simón Matos Guadarrama ’20 Memorial Excellence Scholarship

Danny Matos Guadarrama was a young man originally from Venezuela who fell in love with the food industry from a very early age. He used to entertain relatives and family friends alike with his dish creations including Venezuelan typical food. After graduating from high school in Florida with a concentration in food services, he attended the Culinary Institute of America where he completely embraced the multiple facets of the culinary world and discovered his passion for wine making and wine tasting.
As a certified sommelier, Danny left us way too soon while doing what he loved at a top notch restaurant in the Napa Valley area. As a way to honor his legacy and dreams, a student scholarship has been instituted for those who work hard to excel in the food services industry and are not afraid where their passion might take them.