National Restaurant
Association Chairman Speaks to Baccalaureate Candidates; TV Chef Advises
Associate Degree Graduates
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu
Hyde Park, NY – Ken Conrad, chairman of the National Restaurant Association, advised
bachelor’s degree candidates at The Culinary
Institute of America (CIA) to believe in themselves, and chef and
television personality Elizabeth Falkner told those graduating with associate
degrees that there are many roads to success. In two ceremonies on July 24 and 25 at
the college’s Hyde Park campus, 182 CIA students earned their
diplomas.
“I believe in you; the faculty at The Culinary Institute of America believes in you; your family believes in you;
but most of all, you have to believe in yourself,” Conrad told 121 graduates earning
degrees in management and culinary science.
In addition to serving as chair of the world’s largest
foodservice trade association, Conrad is chairman of North Carolina’s Libby
Hill Seafood Restaurants. “The restaurant industry will give you a pathway to
the American dream,” he said. “But you’ll have to work for your success, doing
something you truly love. And if you do what you love, you’ll never be bored a
day in your life.”
Falkner earned a James Beard Foundation nomination as Pastry
Chef of the Year in 2005 while at the same time receiving accolades for her
work behind the stove on the culinary side. She has competed on the Food
Network’s Next Iron Chef, Iron Chef
America, and Food Network Challenge, as well as Bravo’s Top Chef Masters; and
been a judge for Top Chef, Top Chef
Masters, and Top Chef Just Desserts.
“Your 15 minutes of fame are going to happen,” Falkner told 61
recipients of degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. “Don’t worry about getting famous right now. Keep focused and work on
your skills and your craft and honing the art of cooking. Then you will get the
attention you deserve.”
In 2012, she won first prize at the World Pizza Championships
in Naples, Italy.
“There are so many roads to travel with food,” she said. “Our
food world is changing and morphing. There are many more options for
involvement within the industry and it’s not always about Michelin stars and Yelp reviews.”
Photo Captions and Hi-Res Images
Photo 1 (top photo): National Restaurant Association Chairman Ken Conrad (right) with CIA President
Tim Ryan at The Culinary Institute of America's baccalaureate commencement on
July 24, 2014. (Photo credit: Al
Nowak/CIA)
View hi-res image >
Photo 2: Chef
Elizabeth Falkner speaking to associate degree recipients at commencement at
The Culinary Institute of America's Hyde Park campus on July 25, 2014. (Photo credit: Al Nowak/CIA)
View hi-res image >
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit
college offering associate and bachelor's degrees with majors in culinary arts,
baking and pastry arts, and culinary science, as well as certificate programs
in culinary arts and wine and beverage studies. As the world's premier culinary
college, the CIA provides thought leadership in the areas of health &
wellness, sustainability, and world cuisines & cultures through research
and conferences. The CIA has a network of 46,000 alumni that includes industry
leaders such as Grant Achatz, Anthony Bourdain, Roy Choi, Cat Cora, Dan Coudreaut,
Steve Ells, Charlie Palmer, and Roy
Yamaguchi. The CIA also offers courses for professionals and enthusiasts, as
well as consulting services in support of innovation for the foodservice and
hospitality industry. The college has campuses in Hyde Park, NY; St. Helena,
CA; San Antonio, TX; and Singapore.
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