Academy of Culinary Arts Awards Medals, Certificates to New Chefs
May 18, 2007
The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College awarded culinary medals and certificates to 62 new chefs and baking/pastry professionals prepared with the latest culinary knowledge on Friday, May 11.
Thirty-four graduates honed their skills in the Academy's two-year Culinary Arts program and 13 completed the two-year Baking and Pastry program. Fifteen students completed short-term, specialized training to earn certificates in Hot Food, Baking and Pastry or Catering, either separately or in conjunction with the two-year programs.
The awards ceremony, held in the college's Walter Edge Theater, honored the graduates. Those earning a degree received gold, silver or bronze medals or certificates based on their grade point averages and criteria established by the American Culinary Federation. Specialization graduates received certificates of completion. James Sheridan, executive sous chef at Showboat Casino Hotel and 1996 ACA graudate, was the guest speaker. A reception at Careme's, the on-campus, student-run gourmet restaurant, followed the ceremony.
Scott Carlino of Brick was named valedictorian and winner of the Nathan Schwartz Award, which is presented to the top students of each graduating class.
Honorees, their hometowns (by county) and their awards are:
ATLANTIC
Alex Konrady, Egg Harbor Township-Gold, Culinary Arts
Stephanie Merrill, Pleasantville-Silver, Culinary Arts
Tandy Parcher, Galloway-Gold, Culinary Arts
Anthony Previti, Somers Point-Bronze, Culinary Arts
Jennifer Quig, Brigantine-Bronze, Culinary Arts
Willie Rhodes, Atlantic City-Silver, Baking and Pastry
Maria Risoli, Mays Landing-Silver, Baking and Pastry
Samantha Thompson, Egg Harbor Township-Silver, Culinary Arts
BURLINGTON
Holly Bloodworth, Medford Lakes-Silver, Culinary Arts
Leah Carucci, Riverside-Certificate, Culinary Arts
Stephanie McGuigan, Shamong-Silver, Culinary Arts
Maryanne Ocasio, Pemberton-Silver, Baking and Pastry
William Velge Jr., Mt. Holly-Bronze, Culinary Arts
Chelsea Walls, Jobstown-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
CAMDEN
Matthew Burke, Haddonfield-Certificate, Culinary Arts
Chris Chiro, Clementon-Certificate, Culinary Arts
Kristen Curcio, Pennsauken-Silver, Culinary Arts
Clinton Hale, Berlin-Bronze, Culinary Arts; Hot Food Specialization
Barbara Hines, Berlin-Baking and Pastry Specialization
Joel Holloway, Sicklerville-Certificate, Culinary Arts; Hot Food Specialization
Vincent Indiveri, Haddon Heights-Bronze, Culinary Arts
Brendan Kilroy, Voorhees-Bronze, Culinary Arts
Amanda Kline, Atco-Silver, Culinary Arts
Heather Ratkowiak, Bellmawr-Silver, Culinary Arts
Arlene Roldan, Sicklerville-Baking and Pastry Specialization
Lauren Waida, Haddon Heights-Silver, Culinary Arts
David Weiss, Blackwood-Silver, Culinary Arts
CAPE MAY
Jessica Brophy, Ocean City-Baking and Pastry Specialization
Timothy Longstreth, Stone Harbor-Silver, Culinary Arts
Marco Piro, North Wildwood-Bronze, Culinary Arts
William Myers, Ocean View-Baking and Pastry Specialization, Catering Specialization
Anthony Primavera, Cape May-Certificate, Culinary Arts
CUMBERLAND
Rigy Rios, Bridgeton-Baking and Pastry Specialization
Kaydiane Wright, Bridgeton-Hot Food Specialization
GLOUCESTER
Seth Baker, Grenloch-Gold, Culinary Arts
Genie Brown-Schiavo, Sewell-Baking and Pastry Specialization
Louis Favieri, Franklinville-Gold, Baking and Pastry
Jessica Fisher, Mickleton-Silver, Baking and Pastry
Charles Hearn Jr., Sewell-Bronze, Culinary
Christine Hernandez, Clayton-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
John Wharton III, Williamstown-Certificate, Culinary Arts
Penny Williams-Bey, Williamstown-Hot Food Specialization
MIDDLESEX
Danielle Hurley, East Brunswick-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
OCEAN
Scott Carlino, Brick-Gold, Culinary Arts
Jamie Eisen, Whiting-Silver, Culinary Arts
Shaun Kozlak, Toms River-Bronze, Culinary Arts
James Moran, Manahawkin-Bronze, Culinary Arts; Hot Food Specialization
Joseph Ondusko III, Manahawkin-Baking and Pastry Specialization
Rebecca Posna, Jackson-Silver, Culinary Arts
James Thalasinos, Manahawkin-Silver, Culinary Arts; Hot Food Specialization
Sharon Walicki, Toms River-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
Alexander Witzke, Little Egg Harbor-Gold, Culinary Arts
SALEM
Karen Donaldson, Elmer-Baking and Pastry Specialization
SOMERSET
Candace Ulloa, Somerset-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
SUSSEX
Michelle Castania, Franklin-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
Elizabeth Underhill, Sparta-Bronze, Baking and Pastry
OUT-OF-STATE
Lindsay Palazzo, Yonkers, N.Y.-Bronze, Culinary Arts
The ACA opened in 1981 on ACCC's Mays Landing Campus to meet the growing needs of the hospitality industry. Full-time classes meet five hours a day, Monday through Friday, in a morning or afternoon session from January through May and August through December. Part-time and evening classes are also available. As part of their training, students operate Careme's, a gourmet restaurant on the college's campus.
Academy graduates can be found in kitchens around the world in major hotel and restaurant chains, while many have gone on to open their own restaurants and catering businesses. For more information on the Academy of Culinary Arts, call 1-800-645‑CHEF, e-mail accadmit@atlantic.edu, or visit the ACA online at www.atlantic.edu/aca/.