My Name is Ali Luna. I am 46-year-old and father of 5 children 3 girls 2 boys ranging from 26 to 9 years old. I currently reside in Watsonville Ca. I currently work at Whole Foods Market. This is where my exposure for food and the culinary arts begins, for the last 25 years I have grown extremely passionate about the power of food for health community and planet. At a young age, I began to explore my passions in retail, food, community and the impact we as humans have on the world. Working at Whole food Market as a career is where I have learned most of my skills in business, cooking, customer service, work ethic, and Leadership. With these learned skills and ambition, they have given me the necessary tools to be a successful leader, trainer and continuous student in my community and workplace. While working at Whole foods market I also was part of the Berkeley farmers market where I had my business selling hot food to the community and patrons of Berklee California. A great experience that exposed me to a community of local farmers, chefs and musicians coming together to showcase their craft. In my late 20's I opened a restaurant in Oakland California. The experience of owning and operating a business shaped a deeper connection with food, community, and my decision to further my education. This experience shaped the business model I have now which is catering food pop up less overhead and the ability to train the youth from the community that I reside in. ducts. The experience of having the business for 5 years has taught me the importance of being a well-rounded educated business owner. I plan to use my education to start a program for youth in the community so that they can have the space to learn about the culinary arts. Also gain the work ethic and organizational skills it takes to work in a confined space such as a food truck or 10x10 pop up tent. Gaining hands on experience through real life work This scholarship will help with some of the payments for the associate degree that I am looking to obtain in 2025. This award will support with pay for my degree in the culinary arts. It will also allow me to set an example for my children and community, opening the doors to those young and old that would like to venture out into the culinary world. With me going back to school sets an example that it is never to late to go back to school to reach further in education and skill. I am truly excited about the possibility this scholarship will give me to fulfill education goals for 2025 in achieving an associate degree in the culinary arts. This award will allow me to focus on learning and to start the journey of opening doors for the future. Thank you for your consideration, Ali Luna

My Name is Ali Luna. I am 46-year-old and father of 5 children 3 girls 2 boys ranging from 26 to 9 years old. I currently reside in Watsonville Ca. I currently work at Whole Foods Market. This is where my exposure for food and the culinary arts begins, for the last 25 years I have grown extremely passionate about the power of food for health community and planet. At a young age, I began to explore my passions in retail, food, community and the impact we as humans have on the world. Working at Whole food Market as a career is where I have learned most of my skills in business, cooking, customer service, work ethic, and Leadership. With these learned skills and ambition, they have given me the necessary tools to be a successful leader, trainer and continuous student in my community and workplace. While working at Whole foods market I also was part of the Berkeley farmers market where I had my business selling hot food to the community and patrons of Berklee California. A great experience that exposed me to a community of local farmers, chefs and musicians coming together to showcase their craft. I bartered most of the ingredients with the farmers that were also there selling produce and other local products. In my late 20's I opened a restaurant in Oakland California. The experience of owning and operating a business shaped a deeper connection with food, community, and my decision to further my education. This experience shaped the business model I have now which is catering food pop up less overhead and the ability to train the youth from the community that I reside in. ducts. The experience of having the business for 5 years has taught me the importance of being a well-rounded educated business owner. I plan to use my education to start a program for youth in the community so that they can have the space to learn about the culinary arts. Also gain the work ethic and organizational skills it takes to work in a confined space such as a food truck or 10x10 pop up tent. Gaining hands on experience through real life work I would like to further my knowledge through culinary arts through education-based classroom learning. The education that I will be achieving will help me be well rounded in my craft of cooking. Allowing me to open doors for more people like me that are looking to go to school to pursue a higher education at a later stage in life. This scholarship will help with some of the payments for the associate degree that I am looking to obtain in 2025. This award will support with pay for my degree in the culinary arts. It will also allow me to set an example for my children and community, opening the doors to those young and old that would like to venture out into the culinary world. With me going back to school sets an example that it is never to late to go back to school to reach further in education and skill. I am truly excited about the possibility this scholarship will give me to fulfill education goals for 2025 in achieving an associate degree in the culinary arts. This award will allow me to focus on learning and to start the journey of opening doors for the future for myself and others. Thank you for your consideration, Ali Luna