MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College’s Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA), in partnership with the Atlantic City Bailliage of Chaine des Rotisseurs, hosted its 26th Annual Food & Wine Scholarship Reception on Thursday, November 20 at Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing campus.
Thanks to generous donations from supporters, this year’s event raised $9,300. The net proceeds will go towards scholarships for students of the ACA, culinary knife kits, next summer’s Marco Polo Study Abroad Program in Italy and other valuable resources critical to the success of the students of the Academy.
All of the guests in attendance indulged on an eclectic mix of fine cuisine and desserts inspired by the favorite flavors found in countries all over the world and carefully prepared by students of the ACA under tutelage of Chef Joshua Romano.
“We are deeply grateful to all of you and to the Atlantic City Bailliage of Chaine for the support of the Academy and our students. Tonight, is the 26th anniversary of this event and thanks to your generosity this event has raised more than $135,000 during this time,” said Chef Joseph Sheridan, director, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. “I want to thank you all again for your unwavering support of our students and our program.”
Five ACA students – Janae Carrington, Shaina Deaton, Jasmine Gonzalez-Alegria, Johnny Morales and Mariah Salamanca – each received $1,000 scholarships awarded from the Chaine des Rotisseurs “in recognition of outstanding dedication, skill and promise in the culinary arts, exemplifying excellence and the spirit of innovation in the field.”
All of the scholarship recipients were extremely grateful to receive their award and the benefits it may bring as they continue to work towards their academic goals and professional dreams.
“This scholarship helps relieve some of the financial stress on me and overall just enjoy my experience here,” said Carrington.
“This scholarship allows me to pay for my dream school and grow in a community that I only recently found and love,” said Deaton.
“It means a lot to me because it really allows me just to focus more on my culinary career without worrying about expenses and just focusing more on having precise skill building and learning without the debt and the burden. It makes me really happy,” said Gonzalez-Alegria.
“This scholarship helps me pay for my passion,” said Morales.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot. It gives me the chance to pursue my career in food truck, and I get to pay my semesters off and study more on my culinary career,” said Salamanca.
Ed Blake, owner and manager of Blake & Associates Employment Systems in Atlantic City, executive vice president at Principle Academy Charter in Egg Harbor Township and head of the Epicurean Society of South Jersey, was presented with the Champion of Culinary Excellence Award by Sheridan, who also bestowed Blake with a commemorative Atlantic City Chaine pin.
“I would really like to thank the College. I have been involved with it (the College) since Dr. May was president (1993-2005). Vince DeFinis got me involved with many things in the county from government to the College here, different culinary things and the Chaine,” said Blake, who recently donated $5,000 to the ACA for the purchase of new china for Carême’s. “So, the Chaine got involved with education and we started the Epicurean Society, which has been involved with the College for the last 20 years and to this day we have given over $100,000 in scholarships. We ask these young students here to apply for these scholarships because they go directly to the student themselves.”
Over the past 25 years, the Atlantic City Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, which was founded in 1981, has partnered with the ACA to help raise funds in support of student scholarships. Since this event’s inception, more than $135,000 has been raised.
Founded in 1248 in Paris, France, Chaine des Rotisseurs still stands today as the oldest Gastronomic Society in the world. It has offered scholarships and events for chefs and sommeliers across the world. It currently has a presence in more than 80 countries worldwide on five continents and nearly 25,000 professional and amateur members.
Visit atlanticcape.edu/aca for more information on Atlantic Cape’s Academy of Culinary Arts.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 34 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
