Family, friends, staff, and partners recently gathered to celebrate this year’s Hillcrest High School Teen Culinary Apprenticeship (TCA) cohort.
The ceremony marked the culmination of months of hands-on learning, as nine students received certificates recognizing their commitment, growth, and accomplishments throughout the program. Graduates also heard from The Sylvia Center’s Chief Executive Officer Barbara Glassman, Teen Programs Manager Benia Darius, FoodMatch founder and TSC board member Phil Meldrum, their steadfast TCA leader, Chef Educator Will Nadan, and Alumni Coordinator Destiny Smith, who introduced students to The Sylvia Center’s growing alumni network and the opportunities that continue long after graduation.
Skills for Life
Throughout this year’s TCA program, students have built practical culinary skills while exploring the many career pathways connected to food. They’ve developed original recipes for our Art of Cooking gala, collaborated with professional chefs and food industry leaders, experimented with food storytelling through a videography workshop with Eater Social Video Producer Sergio Scardigno, and strengthened the teamwork, creativity, and confidence that are central to every Sylvia Center program.
Each graduate received a certificate alongside a collection of kitchen tools—including a cutting board, wooden utensils, spatula, The Sylvia Center t-shirt, and a cookbook from FoodMatch—to help them continue cooking long after the program ends.
Looking Ahead
Perhaps the most exciting part of the day was hearing what comes next. Several students expressed interest in working with The Sylvia Center in the future (30% of our Educators are TCA alum!) while another plans to attend culinary school this fall—a reminder that the skills developed through TCA can open doors in many different directions.
Whether our graduates pursue careers in the culinary world or simply leave with the confidence to cook for themselves, their families, and their communities, we couldn’t be prouder of everything they’ve accomplished.
Congratulations to the Teen Culinary Apprenticeship Class of 2026—we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you.
