Antun was presented the award at the Fourth Annual FENI Educators Summit on February 15, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois.  He was selected from over 4000 foodservice educators in North America based on student recommendations, his professional knowledge and teaching skills.   Antun is the third recipient of the Food Educator of the Year Award.  

John Antun, the founding director of the National Restaurant Institute, is a research professor at the USC School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management.   Director of the Culinary Arts Certificate Program, he has dedicated his life to prepare students for the hospitality industry.   A former Chairman and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, Antun designed, built and operated eight different restaurants and food service businesses.   John Antun is a Certified Executive Chef, Certified Culinary Educator, Certified Food Management Professional, Certified Trainer, Certified Hospitality Educator and member of the 1980 Gold Medallist Culinary Olympics Team.      

The Food Educator of the Year Award is sponsored by FENI and Talcott Communications Corporation, publisher of Chef Magazine.  A generous grant from The Catfish Institute supports the annual award and foodservice educators.  Attendees were hosted by the Hotel Monaco and the Illinois Institute of Art during their stay in Chicago. 

The University of South Carolina�s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management�s mission for the 21st century is to endow students with the leadership abilities needed to succeed in the competitive hospitality industry.   Over the last 30 years, 3000 alumni have passed through the halls of the Hospitality School.  In its continuing quest for excellence, the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management is now offering four different tracks of graduate education � restaurant, hotel and club management, meeting and convention planning, and tourism.  Many of these programs rate among the nation�s top 10.