Max Grefe, a student at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, received the Cochlear America's Vocational Scholarship last week for his academic excellence, dedication to helping the deaf community and his leadership within the hearing loss community.

He received his first cochlear implant at 10 months old after he was born deaf. It allowed him to hear and communicate verbally and ultimately attend the culinary institute.

"If you want to be the first deaf space engineer, go for it,” he said. “…If you have a dream, go for it."

Grefe came out ahead of 180 applicants. He said he plans to “pursue opening my own restaurant or become a private chef.”