A $4,920 grant from the Guy Fieri Foundation has allowed Kelseyville High School (KHS) to expand its Culinary Arts program and increase students’ access to opportunities provided by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a national career and technical student organization.
In 2022, the Guy Fieri Foundation awarded an initial grant to integrate FCCLA into the KHS Culinary Arts program. As Culinary teacher, Tami Cramer explains it, “FCCLA is to culinary arts as FFA is to agricultural sciences.”
FCCLA helps students develop real-world skills, explore career pathways, and become college- and career-ready through participation in competitive events, becoming involved in community service opportunities, student leadership, and attending leadership conferences, according to FCCLA’s website (fcclainc.org).
This year’s grant will make possible an additional capstone class and more entrepreneurial opportunities for students. Grant funding will pay for another pizza oven, two carts, a 20-quart stand mixer, a stainless steel table, a dough sheeter, a speed rack, and various cake decorating supplies. Cramer explained that the new class may focus on advanced culinary skills such as cake decorating for weddings or advanced pastry-making..jpg?mask=2)
Cramer said, “The idea is with these new skills and supplies, students will be able to use what they have learned to put on fundraisers to cover the costs of competition, including travel and lodging…Being able to offer a capstone class will give students the ability to expand into new areas, which will be really important if they choose to pursue a career in culinary arts.”
Kelseyville Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Nicki Thomas thanked Cramer for her dedication to supporting Kelseyville students and to the Guy Fieri Foundation for making the expanded learning opportunities possible.
The Guy Fieri Foundation (www.guyfierifoundation.org) is a non-profit charity based in Petaluma with a mission to help local culinary arts programs in the middle schools, high schools, and community colleges. The Guy Fieri Foundation is committed to helping youth through nutrition education, exploring careers in hospitality, and encouraging goals for their future.