On May 16th, five students graduated from the Community Kitchen Academy. You can view photos of the day on Flickr.

The video below includes remarks from Vermont Foodbank CEO, John Sayles, Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf Director Rob Meehan, Community Kitchen Chef Instructor Jamie Eisenberg, keynote speaker Melissa Pasanen, and two student speakers, Charles Knoll and Dave Moyer. Minute marks are listed below the video.

00:06 Rob Meehan, Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf Director, welcomes the audience and graduates, introduces John Sayles
04:13 John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO, congratulates the graduates and speaks to their accomplishments
15:20 Melissa Pasanen delivers the 2013 CKA Graduation keynote speech
29:53 Charles Knoll, student speaker
34:28 Dave Moyer, student speaker
42:55 Chef Jamie Eisenberg congratulates graduates
56:14 graduates photo

Community Kitchen Academy prepares Vermonters for a career in the food service industry and lifelong learning through an intensive program of culinary skills development, career readiness and job placement. Students actively develop and apply new skills by creating wholesome meals for those at risk of hunger using food that has been gathered from within our communities that may otherwise go to waste.

If you’d like to support the work of CKA, please consider giving to the Vermont Foodbank. We’re looking to expand this program to more Vermonters and your help is needed!