Matthew Finkel, age 18, was selected as the first-ever winner of The Culinary Institute of America Scholarship and Food Network Opportunity of a Lifetime. The winner was announced on The Food Network Awards show that aired on Sunday, April 15, 2007.

Academy Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, Golden Globe nominee Aaron Eckhart, and Drusilla Blackman, the CIA's Vice President of Enrollment, announced that Matthew was chosen for the award. Then, his favorite Food Network personality, Alton Brown, presented him with the award trophy, in the shape of an over-sized slice of silver "cake."

Read the story