Salute to Veterans Caps off CIA's 60th Anniversary Celebration
Under a sparkling blue sky, the carillon bell tolled God Bless America as students, staff, faculty, and alumni gathered to honor CIA veterans by dedicating the flagpole near the Conrad Hilton Library. There couldn't have been a more fitting way to conclude the year-long series of celebrations at the Hyde Park campus marking the CIA's 60th anniversary.
The CIA and Veterans…A Proud Tradition
Founded in 1946 by visionaries Frances Roth and Katharine Angell, the CIA provided culinary training to veterans returning from service in WWII. Indeed, the school's first 50 students were veterans studying under the GI Bill. The goal of providing exemplary culinary skills training to veterans has endured and we can proudly say that thousands of veterans have graduated from the CIA—with over 600 earning their degrees in just the past two decades. Today, we have close to 100 veterans enrolled as CIA students or working as faculty or staff.
Dedication to Veterans Past and Present
After President Tim Ryan's greeting, the United State Military Academy's Color Guard formally opened the ceremony with the 
presentation of the colors in a display of impressive precision. Kelly Kelly, a current A.O.S. culinary arts student and U.S. Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Korea, spoke eloquently of her pride in serving her country and of how the GI Bill is providing the opportunity for her to pursue a career that indulges her passion for cooking. In a charming moment, veteran and CIA graduate Andy Tabak '48 talked about getting his start as a cook in the Marine Corps and then taking advantage of the GI Bill to attend the CIA (then called the New Haven Restaurant Institute) as a member of its second class!
New Scholarship Recognizes Veterans at the CIA
The presentation of the first Salute to Veterans Scholarship was made to Virgil Ballew, Jr., a current B.P.S. student and six-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a sergeant. The $2,500 scholarship award will be presented annually to a student/veteran who maintains a 3.5 average or above, has completed their externship program, and has demonstrated financial need.
Dedication of the Flagpole
For the commemoration's grand finale, President Ryan and Kelly Kelly unveiled a plaque at the base of the flagpole that will forever pay tribute to CIA veterans and all other veterans who fought to preserve our freedoms. The plaque reads…
"The Culinary Institute of America opened its doors in 1946 as the New Haven Restaurant Institute. A revolutionary concept in the education of foodservice professionals, the CIA was created to help returning World War II veterans become a new generation of American chefs. The CIA dedicates this flagpole as a tribute to our alumni veterans, and to all men and women who have fought to preserve the many freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America."
