OCA “WACS” Global Challenge - Le Cordon Bleu

From the Top
Opening Lines of Culinary Communication
“Everyone can be great,
because everyone can serve.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Austin Children's Shelter Volunteers included Texas Culinary Academy Students:
Stephen Poppell, Dennie-Rae Monreal, Jessica Burkhart, Mary McCaskey, and Juan Baca
“Service is more than just an
action or an event; it is a
mindset that permeates all that
we do at Le Cordon Bleu
Schools North America.”
Students of Service
By Dominick Fedele, VP Managing Director – Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America
The idea of service is uniquely compelling to me-as it relates
directly to what we teach at our schools as well as to a larger philosophy
that we embrace at Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America. Indeed,
community service forms the core of what it means to be a culinary
professional.
Service as a Mindset
Service is more than just an action or an event; it is a mindset that
permeates all that we do at Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America.
Maybe it's easier to make this a part of our schools' culture, since many
of our employees came from service-oriented backgrounds where the
needs of customers came first. But that's not enough. We have systems
that help support a culture of service so that each and every employee,
student, and industry partner gets what they need, when they need it.
A service-oriented mindset sets the stage for success at our schools
as it signals a connection to the community and demonstrates that our
work impacts everyone around us. Charged with educating our students
and preparing them for success in the industry, our faculty members are
students of service who have committed themselves to passing along
the importance of this concept to the next generation of professionals.
Commitment to Service
A commitment to service paves the way to excellence. In giving a bit
of yourself, you help those around you grow and prosper. The benefit
of service is not in the idea, but in the action – and I trust that all of you
will embrace this idea and act upon it.
Service in the Community
I am often reminded of how our schools have embedded themselves
in their larger community. Many schools have adopted specific programs
that help support a particular cause or mission. For example, Texas
Culinary Academy has supported the Austin Children's Shelter for the
last four years. Chef Aimee Olson and Chef Cara Anam have committed
themselves to this mission of this organization – and students have
followed suit and helped prepare holiday meals. By taking part in the
service learning exercise, these students are afforded an opportunity to
apply what they've learned in the classroom to a real-world setting.
This sort of service sets a positive example that serves as an inspiration
to the children at the center. It helps them realize that, through service,
everyone has something to give. ■
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