Kelseyville High School receives Guy Fieri Foundation culinary arts grant
- KELSEYVILLE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — A $7,270 grant from the Guy Fieri Foundation has paved the way for Kelseyville High School culinary arts students to fully participate in a newly formed local chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a national career and technical student organization.
The grant will be used to incorporate Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA, into the KHS Culinary Arts Program.
KHS Culinary Teacher Tami Cramer explained, “FCCLA is to culinary arts as FFA is to agricultural sciences.”
According to its website, 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.”
In 2018, Kelseyville Unified used Career Technical Education funds to help in the Culinary Arts program including upgrades to facilities such as a new demonstration kitchen, new stoves, commercial refrigerator and freezer, three compartment sinks, an ice machine, a dishwasher, a bar refrigerator, new countertops, electrical and plumbing work, and the refacing of all culinary cabinets.
These upgrades also included a handicap-accessible kitchen and technology that allows all students equal access to learning.
In 2019, Cramer worked with a FCCLA program adviser to research and develop a program at KHS. Students were registered, officers were selected, and members attended a regional conference. Then COVID-19 put a halt in their efforts to expand on the work they started.
“Without being fully established, it was hard to expand and grow during online learning,” Cramer said.
When Cramer learned of the grant opportunity to support KHS’s participation in FCCLA through the Guy Fieri Foundation, she quickly received encouragement from KHS Career Tech Coordinator Donelle McCallister and KHS Principal Mike Jones to apply.
Jones said, “Membership in this leadership organization provides students the opportunity to develop both leadership and culinary skills.”
Without the grant, it would have been difficult for KHS to afford FCCLA registration fees, the red blazers required for students to attend FCCLA meetings and conventions, and travel expenses for students to attend events out-of-town competitions and leadership conferences, including the California State FCCLA Leadership Conference scheduled for April 23 to 26 in Riverside.
“The Guy Fieri grant enables our students to have opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise,” McCallister said.
The Guy Fieri Foundation is a nonprofit 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.
“I am thrilled Guy has given support to our culinary students and future community leaders. I’m ready to put this grant to good use,” said Cramer.