PO‘IPU — Two pastry chefs and a cook were presented scholarships by the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Beach during the club’s Wednesday meeting at Po‘ipu Broiler. Shannon Tomacder and Jewel Alquisalas announced they had dreams of becoming pastry chefs following
PO‘IPU — Two pastry chefs and a cook were presented scholarships by the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Beach during the club’s Wednesday meeting at Po‘ipu Broiler.
Shannon Tomacder and Jewel Alquisalas announced they had dreams of becoming pastry chefs following their course of study at the Kaua‘i Community College culinary arts program.
Darrel Solivas was described as having a strong ambitious drive, having arrived here less than a year ago and now studying at KCC.
“I just want to be able to cook at a hotel anywhere on this island after I graduate,” Solivas said. “Maybe if I’m good enough, I can become a chef, but I would be happy just to be a cook at a hotel.”
Martina Hilldorfer, a KCC culinary arts instructor, said the students each received $1,600 scholarships with half being presented at Wednesday’s meeting and the other half scheduled to be presented upon successful completion of their studies.
Hilldorfer said she appreciates the generosity of the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Beach who has presented scholarships to culinary arts students in the past.
In a related area, Hilldorfer said applications are currently being accepted for a “What’s Cooking?” 2009 Culinary Summer Institute for Kaua‘i’s Department of Education high school students.
The summer program is designed to expose high school students and 2009 high school graduates to the American Culinary Federation-accredited Culinary Institute of the Pacific at KCC. They do this through a series of lectures, field trips and hands-on cooking experience.
In addition to being exposed to a career in the culinary and hospitality industry, students will have an opportunity to build math skills using computerized software.
Valued at more than $2,000, students will be assessed only $25 with the remainder of the fee being funded through a Carl Perkins Grant.
All participants must wear non-skid shoes or clogs for safety reasons. A required uniform of a chef coat, pants and apron and professional knife set will be loaned to participants by the KCC culinary arts program.
For more information, call Hilldorfer or Billy Gibson at 245-8265.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
