As the countdown to the 2026 Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards continues, so does its mission to nurture the next generation of culinary talent.

On Wednesday, May 27, six students from the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) School of Hospitality and Tourism Management were recipients of Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards scholarships and bursaries.

From a competitive field of eight candidates, third-year students Anna-Kaye Doyle and Kia Campbell, and second-year student Tyssanne Thomas secured full scholarships. Meanwhile, second-year students Khalisa McLean, Kanye Swaby, and Yolan Davis received bursaries following engaging interviews led by the awards’ conceptualiser, Novia McDonald-Whyte. These sessions explored the candidates’ motivations, academic aspirations, and their visions for elevating the culinary industry.