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American Cheese Society Adds Certified in Cheese Scholarship

New this year, the Certified in Cheese Scholarship was started by the industry to improve access to American Cheese Society certification exams. This fund gives a cheese professional with certification ambition a boost to reach their goals.

Crowdfunding for and by cheese professionals across the industry has paved the way for one certification seeker to elevate their career in the world of cheese.

The scholarship will cover costs for one person to attend the ACS conference, including conference registration fees, hotel and travel, as well as the exam fee for either the ACS CCP exam or T.A.S.T.E. Test.

Applicants must demonstrate a need for outside support in reaching their certification goals, including, but not limited to financial need, and have been accepted to take one of this year’s exams.

Applications are due on April 2.

Scholarships are open to open to cheesemakers, retailers, chefs, students and any other cheese professionals. ACS & ACEF encourages all members of the community to apply for scholarships! While we prioritize first-time attendees and first-time applicants, we thoroughly review every application that comes in and will award scholarships to as many people as we can.

Only one scholarship will be awarded per company, if multiple employees from a single company apply for a scholarship. Any applicants that do not receive a scholarship will receive a discount code for the lowest cost of an American Cheese Society Conference registration.

The Certified in Cheese Scholarship was started by the industry to improve access to the ACS certification exams. This fund gives a cheese professional with certification ambition a boost to reach their goals. Crowdfunding for and by cheese professionals across the industry has paved the way for one certification seeker to elevate their career in the world of cheese. The scholarship will cover costs for one person to attend the ACS conference, including conference registration fees, hotel, and travel, as well as the exam fee for either the ACS CCP exam or T.A.S.T.E. Test.

Applicants must demonstrate a need for outside support in reaching their certification goals, including, but not limited to financial need, and have been accepted to take one of this year’s exams.

The American Cheese Education Foundation is continuing The Peterson Company Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement.

This annual scholarship will fund an Individual membership with ACS for the year, attending that year’s ACS Conference, including registration fees, hotel, and travel, and the fee to take that year’s Certified Cheese Professional Exam.

Applicants must identify as a Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color and have been accepted to take that year’s ACS CCP exam.

The Forever Cheese Scholarship for Cheesemongers is open to those who wish to attend the annual American Cheese Society conference.

The scholarship is open to all those employed as a cheesemonger at the time of application and whose employer must not be providing financial support for them to attend the conference.

The Forever Cheese Scholarship for Cheesemongers will cover costs for one person to attend the ACS conference, including registration fees, hotel and travel. It will also cover the cost of the ACS CCP exam or T.A.S.T.E. Test, if applicable.

To apply, applicants should submit a short letter explaining how they are making an impact in the cheese community in the optional field on the ACS & ACEF Scholarship application.

The Comté Association Conference Fund is open to all applicants who have been accepted for the current year’s Certified Cheese Professional exam and seek to attend the American Cheese Society’s annual conference. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. The Fund covers travel expenses to the conference, registration, a one-year ACS Membership, and taking the CCP Exam.

For any questions, email info@cheesociety.org.

For more news of interest to the cheese industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Scream Break, Flavors of the World Return to Six Flags

Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Thrill Capital of the World, adds a dose of vitamin scream to spring break with the return of the guest-favorite haunt event, Scream Break, and culturally diverse food festival, Flavors of the World. With daily operations from March 8 through April 14, guests of all ages can enjoy world-class thrills and chills, delicious cuisine and exciting entertainment – the ultimate destination for spring break in Southern California.

“We are excited to kick off our 2024 event line-up with the return of two guest-favorite events this spring,” said Six Flags Magic Mountain Interim Park President Jeff Harris. “Scream Break combines the party and fun of spring break with exhilarating and haunting entertainment. The team has also cooked up some amazing dishes for Flavors of the World, captivating the tasty thrills that food enthusiasts know and love. We’re going all out and taking thrills to the max with the most coasters on the planet and unique events for thrill-seekers of all ages,” he added.

Back by popular demand, the Scream Break after-hours event offers eight nights of screams with a Spring Break twist from 9 p.m. to midnight, including a haunted happy hour starting at 7:30 p.m., on Friday and Saturday from March 22 through April 13. The lineup of monstertainment includes:

  • After-Hours Access – Stay in the park after hours during this separate gated admission event to experience a spring break bash like no other where the undead are dying to keep the party alive;
  • Haunted Attractions  Experience ghouls gone wild with exclusive access to two haunted houses, including a revamped haunted maze inspired by the iconic Saw” franchise and the return of Condemned House Party plus three scare zones;
  • Unlimited Ride Access – Face your fears in the dark on some of the most iconic world-class rides and coasters including the new Wonder Woman Flight of Courage, Full Throttle, Goliath, Batman The Ride, Twisted Colossus and CraZanity;
  • Ghoulish Grub – Satisfy a monstrous appetite with foodie favorites, plus sink your teeth in sangria blood bags, specialty cocktails and more; and
  • Exciting Entertainment  Dance the night away between rides and haunted attractions with two DJs in DC Universe and the Full Throttle Plaza.

Scream Break requires the purchase of an event-specific ticket and wristband. Event admission is included with a Season Pass or Membership. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit sixflags.com/magicmountain/events/scream-break-2024.

Guests can take their taste buds on a thrilling ride during the Flavors of the World food festival on Saturdays and Sundays, from March 23 through May 5. Food-lovers can embark on a culinary adventure around the globe with a wide array of international foods ranging from street food favorites to gourmet delicacies, including:

  • Mouthwatering Menus – Sample distinct dishes and traditional desserts from seven countries, including Italy, India, Korea, China, Mexico, Greece and the Caribbean;
  • Artisanal Beverages – Sip and savor the flavors of the world with specialty drinks inspired by each country, including Masala chai, horchata, boba and more; and
  • Festive Entertainment – Let the sounds of the world surround you with traditional music compilations, live DJs, festive crafts for kids and more during this celebration of the cultures.

For the best value, the purchase of a Flavors of the World Tasting Pass allows guests to explore the rich diversity of global cuisine and sample up to 12 specialty foods, desserts and beverages. For more details and to purchase an event Tasting Pass, visit sixflags.com/magicmountain/events/flavors-of-the-world-2024.

For information on all events at Six Flags Magic Mountain, including Scream Break and Flavors of the World, visit sixflags.com/magicmountain/events.

Six Flags Magic Mountain’s 2024 Spring Pass Sale starts on March 18. For a limited time, receive a free upgrade to a Diamond Pass with the purchase of a Platinum Pass and enjoy thrills for all of 2024 with visits to Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles with no block out dates, plus parking, admission to Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park, discounts on merchandise and so much more. Visit sixflags.com/magicmountain for details.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is hiring all positions for Spring Break, plus Scream Break event-specific positions including monsters and scare actors. Team Members receive in-park discounts, rewards and recognitions, exclusive Team Member events, and more. Applicants, age 14 and older, can apply online at sixflags.com/magicmountain/jobs.

Six Flags Magic Mountain, known as the Thrill Capital of the World, boasts 20 world-class roller coasters—more than any other theme park on the planet—including roller coaster icons like Twisted Colossus, Tatsu, Goliath, Full Throttle and X2. Thrill seekers of all ages can enjoy various events and entertainment plus over 100 games and attractions. For more information, visit sixflags.com/magicmountain or follow us on InstagramFacebookTikTokX (Twitter), and LinkedIn. #ThrillCapitaloftheWorld

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with 27 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 63 years, Six Flags has entertained hundreds of millions of guests with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. Six Flags is committed to creating an inclusive environment that fully embraces the diversity of our team members and guests. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.

For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Where Is Lucky the Leprechaun? Help Trap Him!

St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner and our favorite leprechaun is nowhere to be found! For the first time, Lucky has taken his mischievous tricks to the next level and used his charms’ powers to disappear from limited-edition boxes of the magically delicious cereal. In an effort to catch the popular leprechaun, Lucky Charms is releasing a line-up of trap-inspired fun to help cereal lovers bring Lucky back to his box.

To encourage families to hone their trapping skills in advance of March 17, Lucky Charms and Hasbro have teamed up to launch “Lucky’s Leprechaun Trap.” Available exclusively at Shop.LuckyCharms.com, the new board game is a magical version of the family classic “Mouse Trap.” And to prep for the big day, each limited-edition cereal box from which Lucky has gone missing also includes a trap that you can cut out and use to try to catch your very own leprechaun. Collect all four unique versions, or DIY your own custom builds to create the ultimate leprechaun snare. Of course, no St. Patrick’s Day celebration is complete without a bowl of the returning fan favorite Green Milk Turn Lucky Charms with clover marshmallows that turn your milk a festive green.

For those looking to join the chase, Lucky was first seen ice fishing in Minneapolis, where he left behind life-sized charms and traces of magic, and most recently teased fans by making his way across the country to suntan on the beach in Miami. He is now rumored to be making his way to the set of ABC’s “American Idol.”

“We never know what our favorite, mischievous leprechaun is up to,” said Brandon Tyrrell, senior marketing communications manager at General Mills. “But now with him off the box and on the run we’re asking for everyone’s help to find him. We know he’s a big “American Idol” fan and have reason to believe he could appear on set Feb. 25 and March 3 on ABC and next day on Hulu – so be on the lookout!​”

Join the chase to catch Lucky and get Leprechaun trap inspiration by following @luckycharms on TikTokInstagram and Facebook, or visiting https://www.luckycharms.com/.

Lucky Charms’ Hasbro game is available for $14.99 at Shop.LuckyCharms.com and all limited-edition Lucky Charms boxes are available at retailers nationwide starting at 2/$6.

For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.