Katerina Dikanska Is the New Mastercard Scholarship Recipient

For the second consecutive year, Mastercard demonstrates its strong commitment to the future of culinary arts through the Girls4Culinary initiative – a program designed to support talented young girls from vocational high schools in tourism who wish to pursue their education and realize their dreams in the world of gastronomy.

Today at HRC Culinary Academy, Polina Vidas, Director of Marketing for Mastercard, officially awarded the full scholarship worth €12,000 to Katerina Dikanska, the newly selected scholar for 2025. Thanks to this support, Katerina will now join the two-year professional Culinary Arts Program, where she will receive not only theoretical training but also intensive hands-on experience in a real kitchen environment.

“I decided to apply for the scholarship because I have a deep love for culinary arts and I want to continue growing here at HRC Culinary Academy. I believe this is the right step in my culinary education,” shared Katerina after receiving the scholarship.

The Girls4Culinary program launched in 2024 and is already leaving a lasting mark. Last year’s scholarship recipient – Marina Mokrisheva – is now pursuing her first international internship at the prestigious ONE restaurant in the Netherlands, part of the JRE (Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe) culinary association.

HRC Culinary Academy expresses its sincere gratitude to Mastercard for their continuous support in building a sustainable future for women in culinary arts. Through initiatives like Girls4Culinary, real opportunities are created – ones that transform the lives and careers of aspiring young chefs.