ICE Kevin Nurse Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Elissa Beerman

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) is pleased to announce Elissa Beerman as the first-ever recipient of the Kevin Nurse Memorial Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship was established to commemorate the life of Kevin Nurse, a triumphant individual whose boundless passion for food helped him prevail over remarkable medical odds and become a successful chef.

Kevin Nurse underwent a lifesaving heart transplant in 2006. After a year, Kevin contacted the donor's family and discovered an amazing coincidence -- the donor was working as a chef when he died. Kevin felt that he was meant to carry on the donor's dreams and graduated from ICE in 2008. After Kevin passed away in 2010, ICE established the Kevin Nurse Memorial Scholarship to honor his memory.

Given annually to a student entering ICE's career training programs who has overcome medical hardship, the scholarship was established to change the life of someone fulfilling their culinary dreams. This year, it was awarded to Elissa Beerman of Queens, NY.

After recovering from breast cancer, Elissa decided that it was time to give up her ten-year teaching career and take on another challenge -- the world of pastry. "Elissa is an extraordinary individual," said ICE President Rick Smilow. "The same fight in her will hopefully make her a force in the pastry and baking arts."

Elissa will begin Pastry & Baking Arts studies at ICE this September and will attend class three evenings a week. "I am so honored and blessed," Elissa said, "I hope to walk in his [Kevin's] footsteps of success."

For more info about ICE, please visit www.iceculinary.com. For more info on the Kevin Nurse Memorial Scholarship, please visit www.iceculinary.com/career/scholarships. For more information, contact Stephanie Bourgeois at (212) 847-0775 or [email protected].

About ICE

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) is New York City's award-winning center for culinary education. Founded in 1975, ICE offers highly regarded 8 to 13-month career training programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary Management and Hospitality Management. ICE also runs the largest program of hands-on recreational cooking classes in the nation, with more than 26,000 enthusiasts taking 1,500 classes. ICE also hosts over 500 special culinary and press events each year. More information can be found at www.iceculinary.com.

SOURCE The Institute of Culinary Education