Culinary students continue a Thanksgiving tradition of service

As Thanksgiving approaches, students in Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation’s culinary arts program are serving up more than delicious food; they’re serving the community.

Through hands-on experiences in professional kitchens and real-world events, students learn essential skills in food preparation, sanitation, and presentation. They also get to explore career options, including baker, chef, and nutritionist. The program emphasizes technical training and leadership development, preparing students for future careers, simply to be confident, creative cooks in their own communities.

Donita, who has been in the program for two years, said her favorite part about the program is seeing the results of the hard work and celebrating when the food turns out right. 

She said the program builds on itself, and students will be well-rounded in the kitchen by the time they graduate high school. 

“You get to learn about building up your soft skills in culinary, advancing to hard skills,” she said. 

The deadline to apply to application-based schools like Roosevelt for the 2026-2027 school year is Jan. 31, 2026.