Fall Registration Is Underway at the Academy of Culinary Arts; Cook Your Way to $18K Contest Deadline Extended to July 12

MAYS LANDING—If you’ve always loved to cook or are ready to make a career change, now is the time to register for fall 2018 classes at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College, ranked by Best Choice Schools as the No. 1 culinary school in New Jersey. Fall classes begin Aug. 27.

New culinary students should email Judy DeSalvo or call 609-343-5624 to schedule a registration appointment. Registration hours are weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The college will be closed on July 4, and on Fridays, June 1 through Aug. 17.

For the first time ever, the ACA is also hosting a “Cook Your Way to $18K” Contest on Facebook and Instagram where two lucky winners will each be awarded an $18,000 scholarship to attend the academy for a Baking and Pastry or Culinary certification. This amounts to a fulltime ACA student’s first year of tuition and fees.

The contest is open to anyone who is currently in high school or has graduated with a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Entrants that are minors must obtain consent from his/her parent or legal guardian prior to entering. To enter the contest, participants must submit an original baking/pastry or culinary recipe (limit of two per entrant) with a photo and their contact information via the contest link on Facebook by the new extended deadline of midnight, July 12. Current or previously enrolled academy students are not eligible to apply.

The award of the scholarships is contingent on the winners attending the ACA to major in Baking/Pastry or Culinary within two years of winning the contest. In addition, a chef knife kit from the Follett Bookstore ($250 value) will be awarded to eight runners-up.

For more contest details, to enter or to vote for your favorite recipe, visit the Atlantic Cape Facebook page and click on the “Cook Your Way to 18K” pinned post.

The academy offers two-year degree programs in culinary arts, baking and pastry, and food service management, and specialization programs in hot foods, baking and pastry, food service management and catering.

The academy also offers two one-year certificate programs, Baking and Pastry Certificate I and Culinary Arts Certificate I.  These two-semester certificates are designed to provide students with career training for entry-level positions in the baking and pastry or culinary fields. The certificates can also be used as a foundation for completing an associate degree at the Academy of Culinary Arts. 

ACA students have many opportunities to gain hands-on experience throughout the year. Some activities include: Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala, Iron Student Chef Competition, American Culinary Federation’s Junior Chefs Competition, Atlantic Cape’s Organic Greenhouse, Strudels Bakeshop, Culinary Student Association and food shows. Students have gone on to compete on nationally televised food shows including Chopped and The Next Food Network Star.

Full-time classes meet five hours a day, Monday through Friday, in morning or afternoon sessions. The ACA has been training future chefs for more than 30 years, and is accredited by the American Culinary Federation. For more information about the ACA, call 1-800-645‑CHEF, email Admissions or visit the ACA.