The most recent graduating class from the Boulder, Colorado campus of Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts had plenty to celebrate this past weekend as they walked across the commencement stage in front of more than 400 chef educators, instructors, family and friends to receive their culinary school diploma.
The classes of 2018 and 2019 Escoffier graduates included more than 700 online students from nearly 50 states and an additional 107 students enrolled at the Boulder campus. Many of the students met for the first time at the graduation or during the weekend-long festivities that allowed the future chefs to collaborate and network. One of the highlights of the weekend’s festivities included a networking event hosted by Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield.
“This talented class of Escoffier students pushed themselves beyond traditional classroom lessons to learn expanded curriculum at local farms, gardens and in restaurant kitchens,” said Tracy Lorenz, CEO and President of Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. “We’re honored to bring everyone together this weekend in one place and to learn about their plans as they incorporate Escoffier’s traditions of culinary excellence and sustainability into their new career path.”
Many graduates have already secured positions in the industry and all have immediate opportunity to join Escoffier’s esteemed alumni group; an exclusive life-long platform available to graduates to network, share advice, stories and employment opportunities.
Graduation keynote speaker Michael Poompan, executive chef for The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Denver, shared his vision with the Escoffier graduating class. With a passion for farm-to-table dishes and utilizing the best in local ingredients, Chef Poompan also challenged the graduates to seek out relationships with local farmers, ranchers and food artisans and pushed them as culinary artists to be creative with their dishes.