Awards Banquet

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Kiwanis Catering Event

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National ProStart Invitational Restaurant Management Team

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Industry Partners

We are so grateful to the following industry partners for sharing their time with us on campus this year:

• Chef Edwin from Advent Health
• National Marketing Director Keith Melanson of Future Foods, INC.
• Executive Pastry Sous Chef Rheanna Schaeffer of Epcot and Executive Chef Jerry Helminski of Disney Studios, Walt Disney World
• Eddie Mendoza, Chef, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge; Carlos Santisteban, Sous Chef, Disney’s Polynesian Resort; Dustin Campbell, Sous Chef, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge; Katelynn Roberto, Sous Chef, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge; Wendy Samuels, Project Manager, Culinary Concept Development
• Elena Santana and the entire PR, Marketing, Menu Development, and Restaurant Management team from Sonny’s Corporate Office
• Assistant Manager Crystal and General Manager Drew from Sonny’s Apopka
• Amy Walsh and Cindy Traenker from Dominoes Corporate Office
• Executive Chef Jeffery Powell and Anaiss Madera from Hyatt Grand Cypress
• Chef Harmon and Chef Raffi from Universal Studios
• Chef Kenneth Bourgoin from Valencia College

The pictures below are of our chef partners interaction with students on campus.

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Projects

Interview practice with Hyatt HR Professionals

Students spent two months learning and practicing resume writing and interview skills, then put those new talents to the test in a “mock” interview with several Hyatt Grand Cypress Human Resource professionals in a series of mock interviews. It was great practice for career and college and is a reflection of how real-world the classroom can be. Thanks, Anaiss Madera and the whole crew from Hyatt for making this experience a success!

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Hemisphere Restaurant at Hyatt, 2023

Chef Powell invited our state culinary competitors to tour and have dinner at the premier Hyatt restaurant Hemisphere, located 9 stories above the Orlando International Airport. The students had a great dinner and learned a lot about how finer-dining restaurants operate, the values and skills needed to run a great location, and what goes in to making instagram-worthy entrees over and over again.

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Field Trips

Dominoes Field Trip

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Grand Floridian, WDW

In December of 2022, our students were invited to the Walt Disney World Grand Floridian to tour the pastry kitchen, go behind the scenes at Victoria Alberts, explore the walk-in Gingerbread house showcase, and sit down for lunch with WDW’s Executive Pastry Chef, Stefan Riemer, one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America. We are the first Culinary Arts school to EVER be invited on such a visit and we are humbled and grateful for the opportunity.

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Kaiser University

In November of 2022, five juniors were invited to participate in the ProStart Regional Cuisine Workshop at Kaiser University. Students learned from professional chef instructors on the college campus about the intricacies of Caribbean Cuisine.

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ACF Mastercraft Seminar, UCF Rosen

Five seniors were invited to serve as assistant chefs to Master Chef and James Beard Award winner, Jennifer Hill Booker at the American Culinary Federation Mastercraft Seminar at Rosen College of Hospitality.

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Bar Harbor Seafood

Advanced culinary students were invited to tour the fabrication and production facility at Florida’s Best Seafood distributor, Bar Harbor Seafood.

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Competitions

Regional OCPS Culinary Competition

Edible Centerpiece

2nd Place Wekiva Aiden Keesey

3rd Place Wekiva Izabella Ramos-Ewing

Waiters Relay

3rd Place Wekiva Jackie Menell, Lena Jones, Salienca Noel

Gourmet Dessert – High School Division

1st Place Wekiva Nicholas Tindall

Gourmet Meal – High School Division

1st Place Wekiva Joanna Damian, Sharda Chowbay, Trent Serwe

3rd Place Wekiva Apollo Gonzalez-Miguel, Arson Deville, Ema Thomas

ProStart PreLim

1st Place Wekiva Erick Hendrickson, Greta Torres, Josephine Russo, Nicholas Eberle, Travis Grider

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NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge Regional Competition, 23

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Catered Events

Apopka Police Banquet, 23

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School Board Luncheon

Advanced students planned, cooked, and catered a Luncheon for new superintendent Maria Vazquez, her staff, and the entire School Board.

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Homecoming

Culinary students were responsible for food and beverages at the fall Homecoming, serving more than 450 students.

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Holiday Banquet for City of Apopka

Students spent two weeks preparing to cater the City of Apopka’s Holiday Banquet, serving well over 400 staff and family members a five course meal. Students were honored by the Mayor for their efforts.

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Not-So-Scary Halloween

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