Many students stop by the snack store run by Culinary Arts teacher Jessica Whitmire every day to grab their favorite snacks and drinks. But what some students might not know is that the money they spend is actually helping the culinary program.
Money raised from selling snacks helps pay for the ingredients students need for their cooking labs. These labs are required for students taking Culinary II, III and IV, making the store an important part of keeping the program going.
“Because we lost a lot of our county funding for the culinary arts program, and we need money to buy groceries so we can keep the Culinary Arts program,” Whitmire said.
The store sells a variety of snacks and drinks for students to choose from. Whitty explained that the drinks and small vegetable snacks come from Ingles, while most of the other snacks are shipped or picked up from Sam’s Club.
For some students, stopping by the store has become part of their daily routine. Cordae Young said he goes every day and usually gets Takis and a peach drink.
“I think the prices are fair,” he said.
William Lopez is another student who visits the store every day. He said he usually buys Mountain Dew or Dr Pepper and Takis.
“They’re pretty good. I love the prices,” Lopez said.
Freshman William Lopez gets a drink from the snack store. By Nyla Benjamin.
Even though the store is already helping the culinary program, Whitty has more goals she wants to reach. One is to get a double-stacking convection oven for the advanced culinary classes.
Right now, the program uses traditional ovens, which makes some baking projects harder to complete.
Getting a new oven would allow students to try more advanced baking projects and give the program more options when preparing food for catering events.
Whitmire also hopes to help culinary students even after high school.
“I would like to eventually start a scholarship program for my culinary four finishers that pursue a career in culinary arts or hospitality,” Whitmire said.
Article and photo by Nyla Benjamin. Lead photo: Senior Cordae Young shows some of his favorite snacks from Whitty’s snack store. Young visits the store every day and also grabbed some snacks for a friend.
