Blog for Kendall College in Chicago IL | Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Business, Education

Kendall Campus Comes Together for Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Kendall College community found a way to get involved with recovery efforts all the way from Chicago. During the month of November the Kendall Cares campus volunteer group organized a variety of events that students, faculty, staff and alumni could get involved with and support the cause.

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The Kendall College Alumni Association Announces the New Board

Alumni Relations Office, June 17th, 2013 | Category: Alumni, Featured | Permalink | Email this
tagged: Alumni, alumni association board, culinary alumni, culinary school chicago, education alumni, Hospitality Alumni, Hospitality Management, Kendall College Alumni Association

The Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to announce the brand-new Kendall College Alumni Association (KCAA) Board. The board is responsible for representing their fellow alumni and creating a strong foundation to carry the Board into the future. The KCAA board is eager to connect alumni with each other and the school. They have tasked themselves with welcoming alumni to Kendall through outreach, events, and volunteer opportunities.

Since their first meeting in January, the board has created goals and elected officers. The executive board members include President Jeff Vicik ’11, Hospitality Management, Vice-President Chris Balza ’12, Business and Secretary Dana Freiberg ’09, Culinary Arts.

Additional board members include Cody New ’06, Early Childhood Education, Heide Hirschtick ’06, Professional Cookery Certificate, Jaime Mestan ’07 Culinary Arts, Kathy Vevoda ’12, Hospitality Management and Kimberly Gibson ’12, Early Childhood Education.

“Kendall has a rich history that includes a variety of alumni from different majors, campuses and decades. It’s important to the board that we celebrate our roots and keep alumni connected to their alma mater,” says Jeff Vicik, Board President.

After the Alumni Reception on May 20th, the board is looking forward to hosting more events this year. Fellow alumni are encouraged to visit the Alumni Portal at alumni.kendall.edu to update their contact information in order to receive invitations to these events as well as access the alumni event calendar.

“The Alumni Portal is a great resource for our alumni to read the latest news about the Alumni Association. The board will also be using the Alumni Newsletter and the monthly email update to keep the association members informed,” says Vicik.

The KCAA board looks forward to furthering the well-being of Kendall College and its alumni by increasing the interests of its members in the College and in each other. If you are interested in joining the alumni board please contact Marguerite Allegretti, Alumni Relations Specialist at 312-752-2432 or marguerite.allegretti@kendall.edu for an application.

Culinary Students Proano and Welch Earn Scholarships from Les Dames d’Escoffier International – Chicago

Meredith, June 4th, 2013 | Category: Around Town, Featured | Permalink | Email this
tagged: culinary school chicago, culinary school scholarships, current students, LDEI, Les Dames d'Escoffier, scholarships, study culinary arts in chicago

The Chicago chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) awarded scholarships to two Kendall College culinary arts students at a champagne reception on campus on May 14.

Myra Viviana Proano, a career changer earning her associate degree, received $2,500. Her 10-year background in the healthcare industry includes having been a lab clinician and nurse’s assistant, but “My most meaningful achievement has been my success as a culinary student,” she says, evidenced by her frequent appearance on the Dean’s List. Proano’s vision is to be an “ambassador of food to my local community, bringing fresh, local, seasonal food to lower-income families.” One of her Kendall instructors lauded Proano as an honest, forthright hard worker, which will enable her to become “a fine culinarian and credit to the industry.”

Danielle Welch, who is completing her internship to graduate in December 2013, received $5,000. She will add an AAS degree from the School of Culinary Arts to her business degree from Boston College. She grew up in her family’s restaurant in Wisconsin, pitching in and learning every aspect of the operation, including bookkeeping, payroll and purchasing. Welch seeks to learn more about public relations and other business aspects of running her own restaurant. “Danielle is among the top five students I have taught,” says chef and Kendall instructor Pierre Pollin.

Five other female students enrolled in culinary- and baking/pastry-arts programs at schools throughout the metro area also received scholarships from LDEI-Chicago; total disbursement from the chapter in 2013 was $22,500. Scholarships may be applied toward any school-based fees, tuition or other expenses directly related to the recipients’ courses of study.

For more than 30 years, Les Dames d’Escoffier–Chicago (www.lesdameschicago.org) has awarded scholarships to women pursuing careers in food, nutrition, wine and hospitality while enrolled full time in certificate- and degree-granting programs in Chicago-area postsecondary institutions. This year, scholarships in amounts of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,250 were granted based on academic performance, dedication to community service and financial need. Additionally, each recipient was assigned a mentor from the local LDEI chapter to share expertise and guidance.

“Women are a significant force in Chicago’s vibrant culinary and hospitality scenes,” says Judith Dunbar Hines, chair of LDEI-Chicago’s Scholarship Committee, who presented scholarships to recipients at the reception. “We’re proud, in our 31th year, to continue this grand tradition by recognizing and assisting seven talented students with the potential to become rising stars in the realm of food.”

Les Dames d’Escoffier International (www.ldei.org), based in Louisville, Ky., is a nonprofit philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality.

Kendall College Alumni Reception Brings Together 40 Years of Alumni

Alumni Relations Office, May 31st, 2013 | Category: Alumni, Featured | Permalink | Email this
tagged: Alumni, alumni association, business, career services, culinary school chicago, education, Hospitality Management, jose garces, mercat a la planxa

The 2013 Alumni Reception was on held on May 20 at Mercat a la Planxa owned by alumnus Chef Jose Garces ’96, AAS Culinary Arts. The two hour Monday night event brought together Kendall College graduates from the last 40 years from several different programs including business, culinary, education and hospitality.

“We had a great turn out at the reception. Our alumni were happy to have this opportunity to network with fellow graduates and catch up with Kendall faculty and staff,” said Marguerite Allegretti, Alumni Relations Specialist at Kendall College.

Guests were able to enjoy the upstairs event space that overlooked the restaurant and Michigan Avenue. The evening included passed tapas that were prepared by Kendall graduates currently employed by Mercat a la Planxa. “Knowing that fellow alumni were responsible for the delicious appetizers gave the event that special touch,” said Allegretti.

Many alumni also came for the opportunity to learn about the career services that Kendall has available for graduates. “Alumni events are a great chance for our graduates who might be in a transition to meet other people who can offer advice and connect them with the right opportunities. It’s a great way for alumni to build their professional network in addition to the help we offer through the Career Services department.”

A favorite activity among the alumni was flipping through the Kendall yearbooks. The 1934-2005 Yearbook, filled with pictures of faculty and students, was a great source of memories and laughter. Photos of former instructors and staff in particular proved to be great conversation starters.

The night was ended with a raffle. The winner of the gift bag filled with Kendall College gear was John Korycki ’91, Culinary Arts, Executive Chef and General Manager of Zazios Italian restaurant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Congratulations, John!

The Kendall College Alumni Association is looking forward to future events in 2013. Update your contact information at alumni.kendall.edu to ensure that you receive all communications from the Alumni Association. Questions? Call 312.752.2432 or email alumni@kendall.edu.

Where are they now? Catching Up with School of Education Alum Cody New

Alumni Relations Office, May 28th, 2013 | Category: Alumni, Featured | Permalink | Email this
tagged: Alumni, alumni profile, early childhood education, education, Kendall College Alumni Association, online early childhood education classes, teaching certificate chicago, where are they now

The Kendall College Alumni Relations Office recently caught up with School of Education alum Cody New (Early Childhood Education ’06). Since graduating from Kendall, Cody has been teaching kindergarten at a Title 1 school in Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

When asked about his favorite part of working as an early childhood educator, Cody said “As a kindergarten teacher, I have the privilege of working with young children who are excited about school and eager to learn. My students enter kindergarten at all levels of abilities, depending on their background knowledge and prior educational experience. Yet, without fail, each and every one of them shows significant individual growth by the end of the school year. It is very satisfying and rewarding to help them build a solid educational foundation that, I hope, translates into a lifelong love of learning.”

In addition, for the past two years, Cody has taught technology classes, among others, at Kendall as an Adjunct Professor as well as served on the Early Childhood Education Board.

“After I received my Master’s Degree, I was asked to come back to Kendall as an adjunct professor,” says New. “I am very proud of where I attended college and was honored to come back and share my experiences at Kendall. I often tell my Kendall students that I once sat in the same chairs in which they now sit.”

“We are lucky to have Cody involved with the Alumni Association,” says Alumni Relations Specialist Marguerite Allegretti. “His passion for teaching and his passion for Kendall College are inspiring.”

“My advice to any incoming education students would be to recognize that your biggest asset at Kendall will be the relationships you make with your professors. Kendall’s top-notch faculty has the knowledge, experience, and willingness to help guide you through the program,” says New. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Get involved. Also, learning does not stop at graduation. Every professional experience that you encounter once you leave Kendall, whether positive or negative, offers an opportunity to learn from it. Seize those opportunities.”

What made Cody choose to attend Kendall College to pursue his degree in Education?

“I was impressed with Kendall’s commitment to individualized student learning,” says New. “Because Kendall offered more than a ‘one size fits all’ curriculum, I was able to tailor a program of study to meet my academic needs and future professional goals. With the help of dedicated faculty and the advantages of small class sizes, I received an excellent education that has continued to serve me well to this day. Kendall College helped me gain the foundation I needed to become an early childhood educator. ”

In 2011, Cody received a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Concordia University in order to expand his knowledge in this area and better advocate for increased use of technological resources in the classroom as a way to help narrow the achievement gap for disadvantaged students. When not teaching, Cody enjoys playing and coaching basketball. He has served as the JV coach at Francis Parker School in Lincoln Park for the past five years.

To learn more about the Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.kendall.edu. To discover opportunities in Early Childhood Education, visit http://education.kendall.edu.

School of Hospitality Industry Hot Button Update: Brazil and the World Cup

Meredith, May 17th, 2013 | Category: Featured | Permalink | Email this
tagged: Dr Susan Tinnish, Events Management, FIFA World Cup, Hospitality Management, School of Hospitality, Soccer World Cup, Sports Management, Sue Tinnish

By Dr. Susan Tinnish, Dean of the School of Hospitality Management

Walter Vasconcelos, the director of marketing for the Brazilian Tourism Board recently announced that 147 new hotels will open in the country in time to host World Cup travelers. Brazil will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a 30-day soccer tournament that will travel to 12 cities in Brazil.

Sixteen major global brands will be represented including Sofitel, Hilton and Marriott. Brazil also has invested US $16.5 billion to build seven new stadiums, expand airports, and enhance transportation and telecommunications. Most of the stadiums that will host the games are equipped with green technology, including seven that use solar power as an energy source.

Why is this news important to Kendall’s School of Hospitality Management and Kendall students?

Five things to take away from this article:

This infrastructure expansion demonstrates the importance of hotels to support tourism. This event will trigger an expansion of hotels and hotel jobs which is directly tied to two of our concentrations – Hotel Lodging and Food & Beverage concentrations.
This event verifies the importance of sports as business, which will be showcased in our new Sports Management concentration.
The supporting infrastructure necessary to sponsor an event is enormous – in terms of jobs and economic impact. Event management is a concentration at Kendall as well as a focus on events certain classes within the Sports Management concentration.
The emphasis on environmental resource use (solar power, green technology) demonstrates the need for hospitality sector and events to be more focused on sustainability – the center of another Kendall concentration, Sustainable Management in Hospitality and Tourism.
Destination marketing associations are another source of career opportunities in the hospitality industry such as the Brazilian Tourism Board, Choose Chicago or the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Hospitality is a global business with opportunities in the United States and throughout the world. We are excited to watch the situation unfold in Brazil as it plans both the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Source: Edelstein, L. (2013). Brazil to Open 147 New Hotels Before FIFA World Cup 2014. Meetings & Conventions May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ektid54742.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek.

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