Elgin High School culinary arts students win state competition

Eight Elgin High School students who took first place at a state culinary competition will compete at the national level later this month.

The school's culinary arts students run Clumsy Chef, a restaurant and catering company, out of their classroom. The eight juniors and seniors were invited to compete in the 16th annual Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ProStart Student Invitational in February at McCormick Place in Chicago. The students took home two first-place awards - the third time in four years the school has ranked first in the state.

"This is an amazing opportunity to give students the chance to operate their own business," said Ann Leider, Elgin High culinary arts teacher. "Students have to take culinary and business concepts to the next level and be confident enough to do it in front of some of the top industry professionals."

The school's restaurant management team placed first in developing a Moroccan-themed proposal for the next promising restaurant concept. Students created and presented a complete restaurant concept, business plan and marketing mix for a North African-themed restaurant. Their problem-solving skills were tested as they quickly solved challenges faced by managers daily. Team members are Jorge Delgado, Yesenia Rosas, Jackeline Mendez and Alejandra Espinosa.

The culinary team also placed first by developing a three-course menu, which included butternut squash soup with fried pan bread and pistachio crusted goat cheese, coconut harissa chicken with ginger and turmeric, aromatic rice and root veggies with saffron. Students prepared and cooked their meal in an hour using two portable burners. Judges evaluated them on organization, teamwork, knife skills, chicken fabrication, skill and flavor of food. Team members are Shelby Stoltz, Erika Naranjo, Brian Acevedo, and Gustavo Huerta.

Both teams will compete at nationals April 29-May 1 in Dallas.

"One year EHS had a national ranking of 10th place," Leider said. "It's the highest a team from Illinois has ranked and this year's team is ready to do it again and rank even higher in nationals."

ECC student named 2016 Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar:

Elgin Community College student David Friedman is among 50 students named a 2016 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Bronze Scholar.

Each Bronze Scholar receives a $1,000 scholarship and a special medallion. Winners were selected based on scores earned in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition, for which more than 1,900 applications were received this year.

An independent panel of judges considers outstanding academic rigor, grade-point average, academic and leadership awards, and engagement in college and community service when selecting members of the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the academic team program by recognizing 50 gold, 50 silver and 50 bronze scholars, and providing nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. The program is administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the largest honor society in American higher education.

"David was nominated because he is a true intellect," said Amybeth Maurer, ECC director of orientation and Student Life. "He has the ability to make connections between classroom concepts and apply them to everyday life. He encourages deep discussion and dialogue among members of Phi Theta Kappa and inspires others to strive for academic excellence."

Friedman was recognized during Phi Theta Kappa's Convention April 7-9 in National Harbor, Maryland.

Friedman has been an active member in ECC's Rho Kappa Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. He is the scholarship officer and leads the "Honors in Action" project, engaging students to research, develop questions, and apply them to action on campus. His goal is to become a design engineer.

Grants available for teachers to do special projects:

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association is making $15,000 in grant money available to 26 counties in Illinois, including McHenry, Lake and Kane counties. These funds are earmarked for prekindergarten through 12th grade public school educators who want to create special projects for their students. The money is intended to support a variety of special projects that make a difference in the lives of students. Visit irtaonline.org/Excellence.aspx for instructions and the application form. The deadline is Sept. 2.

ACT names ECC an Illinois exemplar of college readiness:

Elgin Community College has been named a leading exemplar of college and career readiness in Illinois by ACT.

ECC and other state exemplars for the Career Preparedness Award were selected based on student success indicators, including retention, graduation, and four-year college transfer rates, especially for underserved student populations. Other factors included the strength of relationships with local employers and high schools; accessibility of career readiness assessments and career preparation programs; and support structure in place for students, especially those from underserved populations.

"We're proud to be recognized for our success in preparing our district's students to transition from high school to college," said Elizabeth Roeger, ECC's dean of developmental education and college transitions. "ECC is deeply committed in not only helping students succeed in higher education, but to offer the best foundation for them to be trained for their careers."

ECC was honored for its Alliance for College Readiness partnership that prepares high school students for college, Accelerating Opportunity Programs that offer National Career Readiness Certification and a certificate for at-risk students in career-technical programs, a student internship program, and resources for the unemployed. The college also provides a financial literacy program to educate students on keeping costs affordable.

ECC and selected community colleges in 40 participating states are in the running for ACT's National Exemplar recognition. National Exemplars, along with all state exemplars, will be honored at the ACT National Gala on College and Career Readiness in June in Washington, D.C.

"For the fifth year in a row, participation in the ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign continues to grow," said Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president for policy, advocacy, and government relations. "We are proud to recognize the notable achievements of the students, educators, and employers who lead exceptional efforts to improve their schools and workplaces every day."

To learn more about the ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign, visit act.org.