| Darryl Ford
Nacagodoches, TX
AOS in Culinary Arts, November 2006
BPS in Culinary Arts, March 2008
San Pellegrino Expendable Scholarship Fund
Darryl Ford left the small town of Nacogdoches,
Texas just after high school to
participate in a hospitality internship at Walt Disney World. He was inspired
to further develop his culinary skills, "So I went to the chefs to ask for time
off to co to a culinary school in Florida,"
said Darryl. "But the three chefs at the resort were CIA graduates. The told
me, 'you've got to go to the CIA'."
After graduating with his BPS from the CIA, Darryl plans to
go to Cornell University
to get a Master's degree from its School of Hotel Administration. But
initially, he didn't plan to take his education that far. "I decided about two
weeks before my AOS graduation that a Bachelor's degree was a must." His
ultimate goal is to go back to the Ritz Carlton in Dallas,
Texas, where he worked in his Externship
with Chef Dean Fearing, the father of Southwest cuisine.
The CIA's BPS program has broadened Darryl's skills and
knowledge. In advanced cooking class, students were introduced to high-end
products not available to two-year students. And, unlike AOS classes where
students mastered the recipes of their chef-instructors, students were given "a
mystery batch of ingredients and you got to use your own creative skills." This
summer, Darryl will travel with a select group of students on the Spanish Food
and Wine Seminar, studying Spanish cooking and exploring wineries,
cheese-making factories, and Spanish cultural and historical sites.
His most memorable experience, though, has been his job as a
teaching assistant in the CIA's Continuing Education program, where industry
chefs further their knowledge and food enthusiasts survive culinary Boot Camp.
There, he formed a special bond with Chef David Kamen and had the opportunity
to work as Kamen's apprentice during the chef's Certified Master Chef Exam.
"I truly appreciate your generous scholarship support," said
Darryl. "It has helped me greatly by allowing me to concentrate on the beauty
of this industry without having to worry about finances. Without your
generosity, I would have had to work many hours to support myself through
college."
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