Academy of Culinary Arts Recognizes Three Valedictorians at Awards Ceremony
December 22, 2010
The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College awarded culinary medals and certificates to nearly 50 new chefs and baking and pastry professionals prepared with the latest culinary knowledge on Wednesday, Dec. 22.
Thirty-seven graduates honed their skills in the Academy’s Culinary Arts program, and ten completed the Baking and Pastry program. Four short-term specialization certificates in Baking and Pastry and Hot Food were awarded.
The awards ceremony was held in the college’s Walter Edge Theater on the Mays Landing Campus, and honored the graduates with 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. A reception at Careme’s, the on-campus, student-run gourmet restaurant, followed the ceremony.
Jorjiana Costantino of Margate, Colleen Cox of Medford, and Nikki DiCicco of Moorestown, were named valedictorians and winners of the Nathan Schwartz Award, which is presented to the top student of each graduating class.
Honorees, their hometowns (by county) and their awards are:
ATLANTIC
Kelsey Bazelak, Mays Landing–Bronze, Baking and Pastry
Randall Bobb, Galloway–Certificate, Baking and Pastry
Matthew Cirino, Minotola–Certificate, Culinary Arts
Timothy Coco, Mays Landing–Certificate, Culinary Arts
Jorjiana Costantino, Margate–Gold, Culinary Arts
Aaron Coppens, Egg Harbor Twp.–Certificate, Culinary Arts
Bradford Eckman, Mays Landing–Bronze, Culinary Arts
David Laielli, Brigantine–Certificate, Culinary Arts
Alexandra Doyle, Hammonton–Silver, Culinary Arts
Andrew Huggard, Galloway–Silver, Culinary Arts
Daniel Spangler, Egg Harbor–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Ashley Tharp, Mays Landing–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Kevin Vance, Mays Landing–Bronze, Culinary Arts
BERGEN
Floyd Brewer, Ramsey–Certificate, Culinary Arts
BURLINGTON
Jaclyn Burns, Cinnaminson–Certificate, Baking and Pastry
Colleen Cox, Medford–Gold, Culinary Arts
Nikki Dicicco, Moorestown–Gold, Culinary Arts
CAMDEN
Grant Davis, Haddonfield–Silver, Culinary Arts
Breeanna Davis, Atco–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Jane Donnelly, Audubon–Silver, Baking and Pastry
Dana McLarney, Blackwood–Gold, Baking and Pastry
Melissa Traenkner, Collingswood–Certificate, Baking and Pastry Specialization
CAPE MAY
Rachael Fulford, Cape May Court House–Silver, Culinary Arts
Nicholas Heishman, North Cape May–Silver, Culinary Arts
Mike Farrell, Cape May Court House–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Veronica Harwood, Villas–Silver, Culinary Arts
Stephanie Jakel, North Wildwood–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Louis Rodia, Wildwood–Silver, Culinary Arts
Charles Smith, Ocean View–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Britney Thompson, Woodbine–Silver, Baking and Pastry
Anastasia Yanoschak, Ocean City–Bronze, Culinary Arts
CUMBERLAND
Theresa Bodine, Vineland–Silver, Culinary Arts
Angel Hernandez, Vineland–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Carly Skain, Millville–Silver, Culinary Arts
GLOUCESTER
Brandy Bundy, Williamstown–Silver, Culinary Arts
Wiliam Gaskill, Westville–Certificate, Culinary Arts
Kristen Hughes, Turnersville–Certificate, Baking and Pastry Specialization
Kathryn Kearns, Williamstown–Silver, Baking and Pastry
Kyle Leach, Sewell–Bronze, Baking and Pastry
Matthew McComb, Turnersville–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Barbara Seacrest, Franklinville–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Jessica Schlosser, National Park–Bronze, Baking and Pastry; Certificate, Hot Food Specialization
OCEAN
Jessica Boyle, Barnegat–Silver, Culinary Arts
Matthew Gonsiewski, Beachwood–Certificate, Culinary Arts
Anthony Guerino, Toms River–Certificate, Baking and Pastry Specialization
Stanley Markoski, Beach Haven–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Christopher Moore, North Beach Haven–Bronze, Culinary Arts
Tiffany Seaman, Bayville–Gold, Culinary Arts
Lisa E. Smith, Seaville–Silver, Culinary Arts
SALEM
Autumn McKie, Pennsville–Silver, Baking and Pastry
The ACA opened in 1981 on Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing Campus to meet the growing needs of the hospitality industry. Academy graduates can be found in kitchens around the world in major hotel and restaurant chains, while others 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.