What’s It All About?
Are you ready to take your passion and culture beyond borders and step into the global world of Hospitality and Culinary Arts?
International Trainee Network (ITN) and Odyssey International Exchange are excited to bring back the ITN & Odyssey’s Scholarship Competition in 2026, featuring an inspiring new theme:
Your Culture Beyond Borders.
This year, we invite passionate students, graduates, and young professionals to share more than their professional journey and to embrace their role as Cultural Ambassadors of their countries, just as they will during their J-1 Intern or Trainee Program. We invite you to represent your culture, and we look forward to learning about the traditions, values, customs, and cultural elements that make you and your country unique.
J-1 Intern & Trainee Programs are cultural exchange programs. Think about what you would share with new friends in the United States. It could be a traditional meal from your home country, a celebration that brings people together, or a value that holds an important place in your family life. Often, it is the simplest stories and things that carry the deepest meaning and leave the most lasting impression.
This is your opportunity to highlight your personality, your culture, and your professional ambition for a chance to Win a Free 12-Month J-1 Intern or Trainee Program in Hospitality or Culinary Arts in the United States, valued at $3,995. Additionally, all eligible participants will receive Exclusive Discounts on our Program Fees, making it easier to begin their American journey.
The Winner will be Awarded a Free 12-Month J-1 Intern or Trainee Program in
Hospitality or Culinary Arts in the United States, valued at $3,995!
Discounts on our Program Fees will be provided to all competition participants!
Scholarship Competition Theme
This year’s theme, Your Culture Beyond Borders, invites you to share your cultural identity and explore how it has shaped both who you are and your professional journey in Hospitality or Culinary Arts. We are looking to learn who you are, where you come from, what you value, and how your background influences the way you see the world and your career. With this edition, we aim to promote the cultural exchange goal of the J-1 Intern & Trainee Program and celebrate cultural diversity, global understanding, and the next generation of international Hospitality and Culinary leaders.
Culture plays a powerful role in Hospitality and Culinary Arts. It influences how we welcome guests, how we prepare and share food, and how we create meaningful and memorable experiences for others. This year, we encourage you to reflect on yourself, your traditions, values, customs, and the cultural elements that have shaped your identity.
We also want to understand how you carry your culture with you when stepping into new environments. Whether expressed through foods, celebrations, family values, or everyday habits, your cultural identity becomes a bridge that connects you with others. As a J-1 Intern or Trainee, you are not only showcasing your skills, knowledge, and ambition, but also serving as a Cultural Ambassador for your country in an international setting.
If you are ready to experience the United States with a J-1 Intern or Trainee Program and take the next step in your international career, continue reading the requirements for the Scholarship Competition in 2026. Time is limited, so submit your application as soon as possible!
How To Enter In The Competition?
1. Participants must follow the steps to complete the J-1 Eligibility Test and the ITN Resume after completing the application form here. Participants must not be currently registered in a program with us and must complete the ITN Resume by July 25 at 12 P.M. PST.
* Please double-check the email address before submitting the application form, and make sure you check your emails daily.
2 At the same time, participants will need to follow International Trainee Network and Odyssey International Exchange on Instagram and Facebook, and tag three friends in the competition’s post:
3. Our team of experts will review the ITN Resume to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for a J-1 Intern & Trainee Program in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Pastry, or Housekeeping.
4. We will inform you via email if you are eligible and if you can proceed to the next step in order to submit your video for the competition.Eligible candidates must submit their video by August 25 at 12 P.M. PST.
*More information on how to submit the video will be sent to you via email after our team has checked your eligibility for the J-1 Intern & Trainee Program.
Video Requirements:
For this year’s competition, under the theme “Your Culture Beyond Borders”, we invite you to take us on a journey that explores how your culture shapes both who you are and your path in Hospitality or Culinary Arts.
Be creative in how you film, tell the story, and edit the video. Professional equipment is not required, but the videos that effectively use creativity to communicate the theme will receive additional points. You will also have optional opportunities to receive additional points during the video submission process.
Your video must be recorded in real-life settings. This may include your school, hotel, restaurant, kitchen, market, home, or any other meaningful place where you can best share your story. You may receive assistance from a friend with filming or editing; however, you must personally appear in the video.
The video must be between 1 and 3 minutes long, and you must answer at least the following questions, if not more:
Who are you, and how does your cultural background shape the way you see the world and approach your career in Hospitality or Culinary Arts?
What would you show your new friends in the United States about your country and culture? You must also present and explain a traditional item, food, costume, celebration, custom, or another meaningful cultural element from your country.
As a Cultural Ambassador participating in a J-1 Intern or Trainee Program, what is the most important message, tradition, or aspect of your culture that you would like people in the United States to remember about you and your country?
What’s The Prize?
The Winner will be Awarded a Free 12-Month J-1 All-Inclusive Intern or Trainee Program in Hospitality or Culinary Arts in the United States, worth $3,995, with International Trainee Network and Odyssey International Exchange. The other competition participants will receive significant Discounts on our All-Inclusive J-1 Intern & Trainee Programs in Hospitality & Culinary Arts.
This is a great opportunity that provides you with access to over 200 of ITN’s exclusive partner Host Organizations across the United States. The opportunities are endless, and we will help you find the J-1 Intern or Trainee Program of your dreams!
Application Form
Kindly access the link here through the button below in order to start your application for the ITN & Odyssey’s Scholarship Competition in 2026: