CONGRATULATIONS to our CLASS OF 2025!
Graduation is one of our favourite events of the year! On Sunday June 1, we were thrilled to honour the Class of 2025 at our annual Graduation Ceremony, held at the Stratford Chefs School in downtown Stratford.
Diplomas and Achievement Awards were handed out, and Valedictorian Jenny Duong made an inspiring and heartwarming speech. Stratford’s Poet Laureate David Stones read his poem “Through Those Doors“, which he wrote specially for the Graduating class.
We are very proud of the accomplishments of these students, ours is a very challenging program – and they did it! Here’s to the continued learning and success of our newest Grads, pictured below receiving their Diplomas from Program Manager Randi Rudner.
Graduating Students
Seth Chow, Amelia Dunham-Vaillancourt, Jenny Duong (Class Valedictorian)
Gustavo Garcia, Andrew Gardner, Elizabeth MacDonald
Evan Richardson, Jessica Wilson (Absent: Sophia Trettin)
Graduation Award Recipients
SCS Award | Academic Achievement: Jessica Wilson, presented by Randi Rudner.
Elizabeth Baird Award | Excellence in Lab Cookery: Seth Chow, presented by Neil Baxter.
Lady Glaze Award | Outstanding Achievement, Pastry: Jessica Wilson, presented by Neil Baxter.
Nigel & Ruth Howard Award | Outstanding Achievement, Final Business Project: Jessica Wilson, Gustavo Garcia, Andrew Gardner, Elizabeth MacDonald, Sophia Trettin (absent) | Landscape Cafe, presented by Nigel Howard.
Eleanor Kane Award | Outstanding Achievement, Gastronomy: Jessica Wilson, presented by Eleanor Kane.
Christopher John Sinopoli Memorial Award | Outstanding Achievement, Larder: Amelia Dunham-Vaillancourt, presented by Mike Booth.
SCS Award for Excellence in Wine Service: Gustavo Garcia, presented by Alexandra Evans.
Randi Rudner Award for Women in Leadership: Jessica Wilson, presented by Randi Rudner.
Delta Doherty Memorial Award for Excellence in Vegan and Vegetarian Cuisine: Jenny Duong, presented by Randi Rudner.
Level One Scholarship Recipients
SCS Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement Overall: Jon Cober, presented by Randi Rudner.
T. Kent Calhoun Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Cookery: Caden Blain, presented by Neil Baxter.
Garland Canada Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Commodities: Jon Cober, presented by Randi Rudner.
Timothy D. Leaney Memorial Scholarship for Positivity and Commitment to Learning: Felix Obrascovs, presented by Jennifer Otter-Leaney.
IODE Festival Jubilee Chapter Scholarship in Honour of Victoria Noble: Jenna Terry, presented by Randi Rudner.
Lindsay Reid Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Pastry: Ciara LaMarsh-Clements, presented by Erin Negus.
Joseph Hoare Gastronomic Writer-in-Residence Scholarship for Writing: Felix Obrascovs, presented by Melissa Graham.
CONGRATULATIONS ALL!
Celebratory Poem
David Stones, Stratford's Poet Laureate and Chair of the School's Advisory Group, wrote a special poem for our Graduating Class of 2025, and read it at Graduation. Click the document below to read the poem, titled "Through Those Doors".
Reception Photos
Photos: Terry Manzo
Learn More
Learn more about our Enriched Cook Apprenticeship 32 week program.
Learn more about our Open Kitchen recreational cooking classes and other events.
Do you have questions about our Program?
Contact us by email admin@stratfordchef.com or call 519.271.1414