2 weeks Ago
Michael Carmel earned the Idaho Potato Commission Postsecondary Educator of the Year award for his community partnerships, commitment to students and leadership in working to protect the Guild of Culinary Arts. The Idaho Potato Commission, along with the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education, selected Goose Creek resident Michael Carmel, department head at the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College, to receive the 2024 Postsecondary Educator of the Year award. This national honor recognizes an educator’s professional commitment to the educational community and the food service industry.
Carmel’s reaction was disbelief when he heard he had won the IPC Postsecondary Educator of the Year award. His astonishment was understandable as he did not apply himself but was secretly nominated by a coworker. That colleague understood Carmel’s profound impact on culinary education during his 20-year tenure.
Additionally, Carmel worked as a successful professional industry chef before committing to the culinary education kitchen. One nominating letter said, “Chef is an impressive person, chef, and leader who is consistently working to protect the Guild of Culinary Arts while putting students first in education.” He created numerous innovative community partnerships.
For example, Carmel connected his students with a local aquarium and its Good Catch program. The goal was to teach students butchery skills with sustainably caught, locally sourced seafood. Then, the cooked seafood was donated to a local food bank serving nearly 5,000 food-insecure community members.
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In a single year, he managed two fundraising events serving more than 1,000 people, which helped raise more than $1 million for student scholarships. His commitment to students knows no boundaries – not even the physical boundaries of the United States. Carmel has organized, developed and led students on study abroad trips.
From helping students fundraise to introducing them to global chefs, creating a global culinary perspective has enriched Carmel’s students and helped form the next generation of culinary leaders. Carmel's commitment to culinary arts is legendary, from participating in his college’s artificial intelligence professional development committee to hosting the 2023 CAFÉ’s Leadership Conference. The Postsecondary Educator of the Year award provided a $1,000 cash prize, commemorative plaque, and complimentary registration to attend CAFÉ’s 2024 Leadership Conference this past summer in San Antonio, Texas.
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