Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment

Kasey Riha and Stephanie Mancayo Flores received each a Back in the Vat Grant in February 2026. These grants were adopted by the DZTE after the dissolution of The Cheeseletes in 2026.

Will create a standardized cheesemonger training program in the US that builds confidence, emphasizes safety and technique behind the counter, and encourages creativity and respect for cheese.

Will investigate the mystifying world of brine and salt used in cheese production.

Wants to help cheesemakers develop and fine tune their aging spaces.

Will share her findings at the American Cheese Society Conference in Sacramento, CA this July

Wants to study dairy vocational programs in Europe as models for North America.

Project will contrubute to a greater understanding of sensory evaluation in cheese

Project will focus on how climate change is impacting cheesemakers.

Recipient hopes to explore the varieties of rennet used in cheese production

Recipient hopes to expand our understanding of cheese from the Indian Subcontinent