Mori and Forough Hosseini establish $1 million endowed fund to support culinary and hospitality management students

Hospitality and Culinary Management programs, the Hosseinis helped secure $32.6 million to build DSC’s new student center and $1.2 million to renovate the former student center, now named Forough B. Hosseini Hall and home to the Falcon HOPE Center.

Philanthropists and longtime Daytona State College supporters Mori and Forough Hosseini recently established a $1 million endowed fund to provide ongoing support for students pursuing careers in culinary and hospitality management through the DSC’s Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality & Culinary Management.

“Mori and Forough understand and appreciate the value and benefits of investing in education, and their contributions over the years have helped hundreds of students pursue their dreams of careers in the culinary and hospitality industries,” said Daytona State College President Tom LoBasso. “Their longtime support for Daytona State will be paying dividends for generations to come.”

The Mori and Forough Hosseini Endowed Scholarship for Culinary & Hospitality Management provides for a $950,000 permanent endowment for scholarships and required materials, $10,000 to award immediately for scholarships, and $40,000 available to award immediately for priority program and equipment needs.

The endowment will provide scholarships of up to $750 each semester for part-time students and up to $1,500 each semester for fulltime students. Students can be new or continuing, must be taking at least six credit hours per semester and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Qualifying students can be taking classes in any certificate or degree program within the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality & Culinary Management.

“The Mori and Forough Hosseini Endowed Scholarship for Culinary & Hospitality Management ensures the continued success of future generations of students entering the hospitality industry, better preparing them to succeed in the state’s number one industry,” said Chef Costa Magoulas, Dean of the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality & Culinary Management. “The Hosseinis have touched the lives of many people in a positive way. That is very special.”

Daytona State College’s Hospitality and Culinary Management programs offer multiple options with hands-on training to help graduates begin or continue careers in the fast-paced, competitive business environment of the hospitality and culinary industries. The facility includes state-of-the-art kitchens and high-tech classrooms, providing students with a real-world setting to practice their crafts and hone their skills.

In addition to their support for the

Forough Hosseini served 13 years with the District Board of Trustees, appointed in 2006 by Gov. Jeb Bush and reappointed by governors Charlie Crist and Rick Scott. She advocated locally and statewide to secure funding for a new building on the Deltona Campus and advocated for programs like Optician Technology and Database Technology, and supported the Additive Manufacturing concentration being incorporated into the B.S. in Engineering Technology program. She also helped develop a comprehensive plan to eradicate homelessness and hunger among our students, a model now used by the State Board of Education.

The Hosseini Family also financially supported the construction of the Mori Hosseini Center, which houses DSC’s Southeast Museum of Photography and the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality & Culinary Management.