GC Culinary Program Brings Home Awards

The Grayson College Culinary program won three awards at the Texas Chef’s Association convention this August:

• Chef Rusty Weatherly won Chef Educator of the Year for the State of Texas. 
• New adjunct professor, Annie Greenslade won Pastry Chef of the Year for the State of Texas. 
• Rory Larkins won Student Chef of the Year for the State of Texas. 

Each of the 13 chapters in the state are allowed to elect one person for each award that is given (Pastry Chef of the Year, Chef of the Year, Chef Educator of the Year, and Student Chef of the Year). The Red River Chapter won three out of the four awards at the state level. These chefs will now apply to win the central region award and then (if chosen) to compete for the national title. 

Grayson College has now had the last three student chefs of the year. Chef Joanna Bryant won the state educator of the year in 2018, the central region title in 2019 and represented Grayson College at nationals in 2019 as one of the top four chef educators in the country. Once the state award is won, there are many steps that one must take to compete at the higher levels including earning certifications that involve taking refresher courses in many subject areas, taking written exams and taking practical cooking exams. They will also have to apply and beat out many chefs in the central region to be named the top winner in the region.

National competitions will be held in July 2021 in Orlando, FL.

Learn more about the Culinary program here.