Host Joy Walczak speaks with Sydney Lieske, KCTC Culinary Aide and Hospitality Program Alum, Erin Mangan, KCTC Culinary Aide and Hospitality Program Alum, and Elli Chivas, KCTC Culinary Aide and Hospital Program Alum.
Full transcript:
Joy Walczak, Host (JW): Welcome to the Your Dream Is Our Dream podcast where we celebrate student success one dream at a time. And today, we're celebrating multiple dreams with people who were students here at Kent Career Tech Center and are now actually involved in teaching in this program. So, I want to introduce you to our guests today. Our first guest is right here with us. Go ahead and tell us your name and where you went to high school.
Sydney Lieske (SL): My name is Sydney Lieske. I went to Caledonia High School.
JW: And your name is?
Elli Schaefer Chivas (ESC): My name is Ellie Schaefer Chivas and I went to Grandville High School.
JW: And Erin?
Erin Mangan (EM): My name is Erin Mangan and I went to Comstock Park High School.
JW: And you all have one thing in common. You are now part of the Hospitality and Culinary program here at Kent Career Tech Center.Erin, why don't you give me an idea of how you went from being a student to what you're doing today, and tell us what position that is.
EM: Yeah, so I graduated from the Kent Career Tech Program in 2022. I completed the 13th year program, and I went on to get my Baking and Pastry Art certificate at GRCC. And my old professor, Don Henderson, helped me get this job here as a culinary aide, and I do the food purchasing for the program.
JW: And you've been here for how long now?
EM: I'll be here three years in November.
JW: And you are teaching the next generation, is that correct?
EM: Yes, helping teach them. I'm getting all their food product and making sure they have everything to learn what they need to learn.
JW: And we have someone who has brand new to our program here. Why don't you share with us how you ended up at Kent Career Tech Center back in a position where you're helping out as an aid in culinary.
SL: Yeah. So, basically, the same as Erin. I did the 13th year program here at KCTC. We graduated in 2021.And then she basically helped me get this job here.
JW: How do you like it?
SL: I like it so far. I find this place very relaxing.
JW: Relaxing and comfortable is great, but it's also a wonderful place for students to get hands-on training. Why don't you tell me about your experience going from being a student here to what you're doing today?
ESC: For sure. So, after I graduated from KCTC, I did my associate's degree at Culinary Arts downtown Grand Rapids, which is the Secchia program.From there, I got a couple of jobs in the industry, working around to find what department and style that I liked. I bounced around from bakeries, I did some catering on the side, and then kind of found my love for being in the classroom. So, I am back at KCTC and filling my bucket again.
JW: Wonderful. What is your position here and what students are you teaching? What are you teaching your students?
ESC: So, I am one of the culinary aides and I do the catering coordinator. So, I'm going to be doing events to help out in the classrooms, but also in other departments as well.
JW: Great. How did your work here at Kent Career Tech Center as a student set you up for success in what you're doing today?
ESC: Yeah, it definitely helped me take college classes. So got into CC and was able to get my Baking and Pastry Arts certificate.And then it helped me meet people here, instructors, so that I was able to eventually get a job here.
JW: And Erin, you were here a couple of years ago. We featured you in one of our videos for the hospitality program. What was the spark that made you know that you wanted to continue to do the work that you were starting even then?
EM: I think the biggest thing is, once I started getting involved in the 13th year program, I really got to help take some leadership over some of the students that were there. It really helped me realize that I liked taking leadership and I liked cooking and I just I like doing the background scenes and doing everything to help keep the gears working and keep the ship moving.
JW: Erin, can you share with me how your time here as a student has really helped you make your dreams come true as somebody who works here now?
EM: Absolutely. My time here as a student really helped expedite my education. I was able to kind go on the fast track at GRCC and get my certificate.And I was able to make a lot of good industry connections. And now, I'm working with the instructors that taught me.
JW: Ellie, can you share with me why it's important for us to even ask students what their dreams are?
ESC: It's a very important question and goal. It helps visualize your end goal in life.Every time that I said I want to be back in the classroom, it pushed me farther.So, whatever your dream or goal is, it helps you create just a straight path to what you're doing. And the more you say something, the more I feel like you want it.
JW: And Sydney, you are just starting here at KCTC. What is your dream moving forward?
SL: I guess I would just like to continue working here, maybe move up eventually, but just keeping, making connections, meeting new students.
JW: Well, it's been really great to meet all of you and thank you so much for sharing your dreams! And thanks to everyone who's listening today, too. If you know a student or a teacher who dreams big, we would love to hear their stories. You can find out more about the Your Dream Is Our Dream podcast at KentISD.org and WGVU.org.The Your Dream Is Our Dream podcast is made in partnership with Kent ISD and WGVU. I'm Joy Walczak.
