Celebrating 15 Years of Culinary Excellence: Future Chefs 2025

2025 Future Chefs National Champion: Dezyah Dewitt!

We’re excited to announce Dezyah Dewitt, a student from the Lexington 2 School District in South Carolina, as our 2025 Future Chefs National Champion! With her creative dish, Cheeseburger Cupcakes, Dezyah impressed us all, showcasing her passion for cooking and love of food. As part of her grand prize, Dezyah had the unforgettable opportunity to prepare her winning recipe alongside our partner and renowned celebrity chef, Daniela Soto-Innes, right at her school.

Download the winning recipe

It’s incredibly inspiring to see young chefs using their creativity to tell meaningful stories through food. Cooking transcends borders, generations, and cultures. Watching the next generation express themselves through healthy, imaginative dishes gives me so much hope for the future of our industry. Being part of the Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge is truly a joy.

Chef Daniela Soto-Innes

Our 2025 National Finalists

Cole Stark

Roseburg School District, Roseburg, OR (Grade 5)

Recipe: Asian Meatloaf with Lime Cilantro Rice & Cilantro Lime Crema

Jonathan DiFlavis

Cinnaminson School District, Cinnaminson, NJ (Grade 5)

Recipe: Jonathan’s Baked Pork Dumpling Flowers

Josie Tedesco

East Hartford Public Schools, East Hartford, CT (Grade 5)

Recipe: Smoothie Bowl

Thomas DeAngelo

Academy School District 20, Colorado Springs, CO (Grade 5)

Recipe: Gyrolicious Sliders

Future Chefs: A Place to Belong

Long-standing programs like Future Chefs do more than spark creativity in the kitchen — they help ensure every student feels seen, valued and included. Discover how we can partner with you to foster a learning environment where inclusion and belonging empower students to thrive.

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