Celebrating Culinary Success: Kitchen School Graduation Marks a New Beginning for 10 Students

December 4, 2024

At the Food Bank of Delaware, every graduation day is a reminder of the power of resilience, dedication and opportunity. Today, we celebrated the achievements of 10 remarkable students who successfully completed our Kitchen School program.

Graduation day was filled with joy, pride, and hope as the students donned their chef’s hats and coats, marking the culmination of months of hard work. Friends, family, and community members gathered to cheer on the graduates as they received their certificates of completion.

Congratulations to:

  • LaRon Burton
  • Brianna Cooper
  • Mark Edwards
  • Albert Henry
  • Nathaniel Matos
  • Brody Pote
  • Malik Reeves
  • John Urbanski
  • Brooklin Williams

The Kitchen School is more than just a culinary training program—it’s a stepping stone to a brighter future for Delaware adults with disabilities. Over the course of the 12-week training program, these students learned essential kitchen techniques,  food safety and preparation, and cultivated the skills necessary to obtain meaningful employment. Most importantly, they had fun and developed new friendships.

Rita Landgraf, former Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Cabinet Secretary and now the Principal Owner for Landgraf Consulting LLC, provided inspiring keynote remarks.

“Graduates, you have the skills, you have the will, and quite frankly, you are amazing,” she said. “So, embrace what comes next for you and give it you you your very best.”

In addition, Landgraf called up each graduate to share some of their accomplishments, “Nate, where are you? Stand on up, Nate. Let them all see how amazing you are.” 

“Now, let me tell you about Nate,” she continued. “You are excited about this upcoming interview at Church Village for the dietary aid position, a critically important position, right? We all need that nutrition. You’re going to be feeding people and I know you are a helper. Just like the helpers, I just talked about and I also heard that you enjoy putting smiles on people’s faces. That is a of purpose and of passion. Thank you, Nate.”
Graduate John Urbanski said to the audience, “Hi everyone. Thank you for coming today. I wanted to take this time to thank those who helped me a the Food Bank. It takes a lot of people to make The Kitchen School work.”
Graduation is just the beginning. Thanks to partnerships with local employers and the Food Bank of Delaware’s commitment to job placement support, these graduates are stepping into a world of opportunities. Many already have positions lined up or are in the process of interviewing. Graduate Brody Pote is working at Harvest Market in Hockessin; and graduate Brianna Cooper is working for University of Delaware Dining Services.
The celebration also included a delicious showcase of the graduates’ culinary talents. Guests were treated to a menu prepared by the students, highlighting their creativity and the techniques they’ve learned throughout the program.

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