New Beginnings: Food Bank of Delaware Celebrates Newark LOGIC and Culinary School Graduates

May 7, 2026

There were tears, laughter, standing ovations and powerful reminders of resilience as the Food Bank of Delaware celebrated the graduation of LOGIC Program Class 29 and Culinary School Class 79. Friends, family members, staff, community partners and supporters gathered to honor graduates who spent the last 14 weeks investing in themselves and building brighter futures.

 “Feeding our neighbors is just the beginning,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “We believe in building strong, thriving communities and that means providing career training programs like this one that open pathways to success.”

Throughout the ceremony, graduates shared deeply personal stories about perseverance, healing, confidence and finding purpose.

“Success Isn’t Something That Just Happens”

LOGIC graduate Brian Bishop delivered a moving message about persistence and growth.

“When I first came here, my frailties and my failures was weighing me down,” he shared. “I’m really grateful for Miss Penni’s life skills sessions.”

Bishop reflected on the determination it takes to move forward in life.

“Success isn’t something that just happens. It’s something that you fight for,” he said. “Every step forward, every obstacle you push through, every moment you refuse to give up — that’s accomplishment.”

He encouraged his classmates to keep striving toward growth.

“This is not the end of our story,” Bishop said. “It’s just the beginning of a stronger, wiser and more determined chapter.”

Rediscovering Confidence and Strength

For graduate Jessica Holbrook, the program became a turning point.

“When I applied to this program, I was desperate for a way,” she shared emotionally. “This program gave me confidence back in myself when I had lost it.”

Holbrook spoke about rediscovering her identity and inner strength.

“I rediscovered who I am — my intelligence, my capabilities, my strengths, my ability to persevere,” she said.

She encouraged others to continue moving forward no matter the obstacles.

“You can be in the mud. You can be in the dirt. You could be waist deep. Keep on taking that step. Keep on working your way out,” Holbrook said. “It might take time. It might take patience. But you can do it.”

A Message About Choices

Graduate Joshua Solomon earned 10 certifications during the program — seven required certifications and three additional certifications he chose to pursue on his own.

Before leaving the stage, Solomon shared an original poem with the audience.

“Hate has four letters, but so does love,” he said. “Enemies have seven letters, but so does friends. Failure has seven letters, but so does success. Cry has three letters, but so does joy.”

He concluded with a simple but powerful reminder:

“You always have a choice, so choose the better side of it.”

“I’m Still Alive”

Culinary graduate Isaac McHugh thanked the instructors and staff who encouraged him to keep going during difficult moments.

“A lot of times I didn’t know if I was going to make it through the whole class,” he admitted. “But they kept telling me, ‘Hey, just keep going. You got it.’”

McHugh reflected honestly on life’s ups and downs.

“A lot of times people ask me how I’m doing and I say, ‘I’m living life,’” he said. “Some people take that as a negative, but that just means living the ups and downs. And I’m just here and I’m still alive.”

“Be Extra”

One of the ceremony’s most memorable speeches came from culinary graduate Onessa Newton, who won both the midterm and final culinary competitions.

“When I came here, I was messed up,” Newton shared candidly. “I lost everything. I lost myself because of trauma and trying to please people.”

Through the program, Newton said she rediscovered confidence in herself and encouraged others to embrace who they truly are.

“If they say you’re too much… be extra,” she said to loud applause. “Be confident in your extra. Be who you are. Be the motivator. Be the one that’s different.”

Newton reminded her classmates that growth often comes through correction and discomfort.

“Correction will get you right,” she said. “You gotta shift. You gotta change. You gotta grow. Do it so you can be something that you always were ordained to be.”

“We Family”

Culinary graduate Quinton Perry spoke about perseverance through a difficult season.

“Rough 15 weeks for me personally,” Perry shared. “But I still showed up.”

He thanked the instructors and staff for their support and acknowledged the strong bonds formed among classmates.

“We went through many different emotions,” Perry said. “And that means we created a bond. We family.”

More Than Job Training

Keynote speaker, John Quick, Executive Director of the Delaware Workforce Development Board, encouraged graduates to continue showing up with reliability and determination.

“You are going to have opportunities presented to you based on your attitude and effort,” he said. “You don’t have to be the best at what you do. But if you’re that person people can lean on, that’s going to mean more to your employer than anything else.”

Workforce Program Director Quinn Vermillion reminded graduates that the past 14 weeks may seem small in the grand scheme of life, but they were transformative.

“The difference that 14 weeks can make in the arc of a life is extraordinary,” Vermillion said.