About Scholarships Program
About Sushi Chef Institute
Andy Matsuda
Sushi Chef Institute
Scholarship Winners
Rafael Otero
- March 2022
Rafael joined the food industry right after graduating high school. After working in the field for more than ten years he found his fascination for Japanese cuisine (specially sushi). With the help of our scholarship program he was able to fulfill his dream of training under the tutelage of Chef Andy Matsuda at Sushi Chef Institute and acquire the professional knowledge and techniques of Japanese cuisine.
His passion, dedication and hard work led him to open his own sushi restaurant “Sushi Cloud” and VIP sushi bar catering “Matsuya VIP” in Puerto Rico. Rafael also teaches workshops, participates in community outreach and makes appearances in different media outlets.
Rafael’s perseverance, drive and our program’s networking opportunities have allowed him to work with important seafood distributors, participate in various trade shows and Gadre projects.
Rafael Otero
- March 2022
Noelle Bantz
- June 2022
After working in the front of house for many years in the food industry Noelle fell in love with Japanese cuisine. She started dreaming of becoming a professional sushi chef and learn under the guidance and teaching of Chef Andy Matsuda.
Our program allowed her to dive into the intricacies of the Japanese culture and culinary world which she had always admired.
She successfully completed her time at Sushi Chef Institute and is now working in new culinary ventures.
Marisa Perring
- August 2022
Marisa’s creativity and passion for food encouraged her to start her journey at Sushi Chef Institute and make a career shift.
Our program paved the way for Marisa to translate her previous professional skills into the art of sushi making leading her to create innovative dishes and recipes, and build her confidence for this important change in her life.
Marisa’s strong will, perseverance and eye for detail has earned her positions as a sushi chef in different restaurants as she continues to amass her skills.
Susan Carter
- October 2022
Susan Carter has been working as a private chef for many years. She is very dedicated to her craft and had always wanted to cater a more extensive, high-end and sophisticated menu to her clientele. She always had a fascination for how intricate and meaningful Japanese cuisine is and she wanted her clients to experience these qualities.
Through our scholarship program she was able to expand her cooking repertoire and learn new techniques that today allow her to serve innovative and unique dishes and share Japanese culture and cuisine with her clientele.
Kevin Cao
- January 2023
Kevin Cao is originally from Vietnam and after coming to the US he always had a dream to open his own sushi restaurant. After many years of running his business, the opportunity presented for him to make the career change that he needed to pursue his dream.
After graduating with the help of our scholarship program, Kevin was able to start his own sushi catering business and is currently on route to fulfilling his final goal of opening his very own restaurant.
Jorge Rincon
- March 2023
Jorge has always been an avid sushi lover, and it was always his goal to acquire the necessary techniques and the proper knowledge to apply cultural gastronomical fusion to his cuisine. The scholarship program aid him to explore in detail Japanese cuisine and culture so he could integrate it with his knowledge of western cuisine.
During his time in the program, Jorge’s creativity and enthusiasm funded a great variety of recipes and he is now a practicing private chef that shares with his customers his love for sushi rolls and fusion cuisine.
Ruben Carrillo
- June 2023
Ruben Carrillo is a fan of Japanese street food such as Ramen, Okonomiyaki and Agemono. Having worked in the food service industry for many years, Ruben decided it was time for him to start his own business and open his own food truck serving Japanese street food.
It was Ruben’s goal to learn the proper ways of Japanese cuisine, specially sushi. Under the guidance of chef Andy Matsuda, Ruben was able to complete the program and hone his skills and he can serve traditional sushi to his customers along with the Yatai food that he loves.
Jonathan Phan
- August 2023
Before starting the program, Jonathan was a dedicated sous chef for a long time. He joined the program so he could acquire the knowledge to start a sushi program at the restaurant he was working at. With the program’s help he achieved the training he needed to include Japanese cuisine in his menu and share Japanese culture with his community.
Shyanne Flores
- November 2023
Shyanne has a deep love for cooking and before starting the program, she could only do it at home for her family and friends, but it was her desire to join the food service industry and cook professionally.
Shyanne joined the program to make a shift in her career and she is currently working as a sushi chef and gaining more experience for her to possibly start her own business one day and share her passion for cooking.
Galina Arzumanova
- January 2024
Galina is a Nurse who shares a passion for the culinary arts. She always visualized running her own catering business incorporating only Japanese dishes and sushi into her menu. She joined our scholarship program to develop the abilities and refinement that Japanese cuisine requires. After graduating from our program, Galina continues to serve her customers with the unique Japanese flavors, garnishing and delicacies.
Lindsey Auerbach
- April 2024
Linsey is originally from Okinawa Japan. She moved to the US when she was very young, but she always felt a strong connection to Japanese culture and food. She is an advocate of healthy eating and was always looking to reconnect with her roots through cooking. After graduating our program she is looking forward to promoting healthy eating habits through Japanese cuisine.
Ka Mana Mai O Kalani
- June 2024
Ka Mana, a young Hawaiian native whose goal is to become a professional Chef, is currently attending culinary school to pursue this dream. Through our scholarship program Ka Mana wishes to broaden his skills in sushi crafting and acquire new experience to one day pursue opening his very own sushi bar and focus his efforts to provide his customers with an amazing experience.
Raymond C Sesma Jr.
- August 2024
Raymond is a Military veteran with a secret passion: Sushi. He taught himself how to make sushi through books and online tutorials and has been making sushi for over 10 years. He decided to join our scholarship program striving for new techniques that will help him refine his Sushi making skills.
After graduating from Sushi Chef Institute he envisions starting a catering business and eventually take it to the next level which for him is having his own “fleet of catering trucks”.
Alex Calibasi
- November 2024
After over a decade of hands-on experience in precision metalwork and entrepreneurship, Alex is now pursuing a long-held enthusiasm for the culinary arts specifically, sushi.
Through this scholarship and the knowledge given at Sushi Chef Institute, he is committed to refine his craft, and grow into a role as a private chef, caterer, or head chef of a restaurant. He is fully dedicated to mastering this art form and building a meaningful second career in the culinary world.
Taweesak Sripan
- January 2025
Taweesak aka Peter is a seasoned Thai-Vietnamese restaurant owner with over a decade of culinary experience who is now setting his sights on a new venture, opening a sushi bar within his current establishment. Driven by a passion for Japanese cuisine, he aspires to become a skilled sushi chef. To pursue this dream, he has earned through our scholarship program a chance that will provide him with the training and mentorship needed to master the art of sushi-making and expand his culinary repertoire.
Christopher Alcala
- March 2025
His passion for food began at a young age. Cooking alongside his family, brought Christopher joy and comfort and a spark of love for food ignited with these experiences. After taking culinary classes in High School, his love for the kitchen and its different types of cuisines grew deeper. However, he ventured on a different path after college and had various corporate office jobs.
He quickly realized that this environment was not for him and took a leap of faith to return to his true love and passion: food. With the desire to learn and grow and the help of our scholarship program he wishes to become a skilled sushi chef who will one day pass on his knowledge and skills to future generations to come.
