Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe Could Help WNY Teen Earn a Scholarship.
Stephen Petrotto, a senior from Clarence High School who is enrolled in the Culinary Skills program at Erie 1 BOCES Harkness Career & Technical Center, has been named a finalist in the Culinary Institute of America's Top Turkey Scholarship Recipe Competition. To enter the competition Stephen had to create a unique recipe made from Thanksgiving leftovers and submit it via video. The national competition provides a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship to the Culinary Institute of America. You may watch Stephen's video on YouTube by visiting http://www.youtube.com/ciaadmissions. The video with the greatest number of "likes" by December 6 will earn the $5,000 scholarship.
Stephen's recipe, Croquette Turkey Dinner, was inspired by his passion for fine cuisine and he was encouraged to enter the competition by his instructor Mr. Scott Steiner. Erie 1 BOCES Harkness Career & Technical Center is also host to a TV and Sound Production program that helped Stephen film and edit his recipe entry. Jordan Warner, a senior from Cheektowaga Central, did the filming. The video was sent to the Culinary Institute of America in November and Stephen is one of nine finalists for the People's Choice Award.
The winner of the People's Choice Award for America's Top Turkey Scholarship Recipe Competition will be announced on December 14.
There are 283 students currently enrolled in culinary program at Erie 1 BOCES, which is provided at three regionally based centers. The two-year culinary skills program emphasizes quality of preparation and presentation in both small and large quantity cooking. The students develop the necessary preparation, service, managerial and human relations skills for the food service industry. Of those that completed the 2009 follow-up survey, it has been found that more than 50 percent of culinary skills students pursue further education.
As part of the public education model, Erie 1 BOCES offers more than 25 career and technical programs to high school students in Erie County. High school students interested in learning more about how they can participate in various programs such computer networking, TV production and criminal justice during their normal school day should visit www.e1b.org or speak with their high school counselor.
