More than 90 seniors from Thomas A. Edison, Murrell Dobbins Career & Technical Education, Benjamin Franklin, A. Philip Randolph Technical, South Philadelphia, Swenson Arts and Technology, George Washington and Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational/Technical High Schools headed to FringeArts for CHAMP Career Day on Monday. Throughout the morning, students met with various businesses looking to hire or recruit for post-secondary options and celebrated the students’ completion of CHAMP (Culinary-Hospitality Advancement Mentorship Program).

In February, the District announced a new mentorship program developed in partnership with FringeArts and presented by PECO that would provide more than 650 of the District’s culinary and baking students with exposure to chef demonstrations, restaurant visits, internships, and professional development opportunities. Since then, there’s been various workshops, including:

• Catering 101 with Laura Fehrie, Director of Catering, Jose Garces Catering
• Restaurant Etiquette with Ben Flecia, Senior Marketing Director, PA Restaurant and Lodging Association
• Back of House, Vendor Relations with Nick Durbin, Director of Sales, Chef’s Warehouse & Susannah Mauro
• Northeast Regional Director of Sales, San Pellegrino
• Building a Personal Brand with Gia Vecchio, Fox Glove Communications
• Knife Skills with Charlie Schmidt, OIC
• Front of House Operations with Emma Richards, CookNSolo
• Farm to Table: Kimchi Demonstration with George Madosky of Fork, High Street Hospitality
• Catering Cooking Demonstration with Dawn Frazier, Ms. Dawn’s Catering
• Chocolate Demonstration with Éclat Chocolate

Participating CHAMP Businesses included: The Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc, Garces Events, Community College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, CookNSolo Restaurants, La Peg, Éclat Chocolate, Peachtree Catering & Events, FMC Hospitality, 13th Street Kitchens, High Street Hospitality Group, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, SFC BARS, Cicala at The Divine Lorraine, Vernick Food and Drink and Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.