NDSCS Culinary Arts students and faculty are scheduled to host the program’s 4th annual Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, February 29th in the Hektner Student Center at NDSCS Wahpeton.

The annual Culinary Scholarship Dinner helps raise funds to support scholarship dollars for Culinary Arts students, increasing accessibility for students to attend this program at NDSCS. This dinner is also an excellent opportunity for students to help create and serve a multi-course fine dining experience for guests, teaching important on-the-job skills and benefiting their overall Culinary education.

The schedule of events includes a guest social and multi-course meal. The 6-course dinner with wine pairings is prepared and served by culinary students, faculty, and program alumni and will be followed by a new feature – a wine raffle! Guests can purchase a cork for $25, and each cork matches with a bottle of wine, ranging in value up to $150!

Guest chefs for the 2024 Culinary Scholarship Dinner will include:

• NDSCS Culinary Arts Alumni:
  • Joe Brunner from Mezzaluna in Fargo
  • Alyssa Berger from 84 Steakhouse in Fargo
  • Summer Peterson from BernBaum’s in Fargo
  • Grace Lamberson from the Toasted Frog in Grand Forks
  • Kevin Roller from NDSCS Dining Services
• Friend of the NDSCS Culinary Arts program:
  • Mark Schmidt of Bix Produce

Tickets are available online at NDSCS.edu/Culinary-Dinner for $125 per person. Thanks to the guest chefs and other supportive partners in the Culinary industry, much of the food and supplies are donated for the Scholarship Dinner. That means most of each ticket price goes right back to the program in the Culinary Arts Endowment Fund, and is a tax-deductible donation.

SkillsUSA has announced their selection of NDSCS student Brady Kroll as the official competitor for Plumbing and Heating at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition. Kroll will represent the United States at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition, which will be held September 10-15, 2024 in Lyon, France.

“The 2024 WorldSkills USA team will have an amazing opportunity to represent SkillsUSA and our nation while undergoing incredibly rigorous training in their craft,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “These team members are making a serious commitment to both their skill development and personal growth that will foster their drive, passion and life’s purpose.”

Kroll, an NDSCS student originally from Barnesville, Minn., won a national silver medal in Plumbing when he represented the state of North Dakota at the SkillsUSA Championships in 2022. Kroll told SkillsUSA, “Being chosen for the 2024 WorldSkills USA team means a lot to me because it recognizes the time and effort I have put into my career. It has also reminded me of how far I have come. I’m grateful for the opportunity not just to improve my skills and understanding, but also to thank my mentors and supporters for all they have done to help me get to where I am.”

The 2024 WorldSkills Competition, the 47th annual worldwide event, will showcase dozens of trade skills from construction and building technology, manufacturing and engineering, transportation, and more. Over 1500 competitors from over 65 countries and regions will demonstrate their abilities in 62 skill competitions.

A student-led partnership of education and industry, SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades, building the nation’s future skilled workforce by delivering graduates who are career ready, day one. SkillsUSA works year-round to instill positive attitudes, build self-esteem and empower students to excel in the career path of their choice and follow their passions. The organization has 850 national partners and is integral to the training in nearly 20,000 career and technical education classrooms.

Follow Brady Kroll and the rest of the 2024 WorldSkills USA team online at www.worldskillsusa.org.

The 6th Street Eatery, located within North Dakota State College of Science’s Hektner Student Center, kicked off its 2024 season with a full house and an ample menu.

Italian fare, welcome at any trattoria and sure to make any guest eager to mangia, is being served from 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays through Tuesday, Feb. 27. Buffet nights will be held in late March. Reservations are strongly encouraged, as the 6th Street Eatery regularly reaches its limit for dine-in guests.

“We’ve put a ton of work into this,” Chef Kyle Armitage said to 14 NDSCS culinary arts students just before the Thursday, Jan. 18, opening night. “First years, thank you for being here. Keep your eyes open. You’re going to see and pick up on what is going to be your field next year.”

Armitage shared his pride in the second year culinary arts students, the ones who have advanced to a place of leadership with the 2024 6th Street Eatery. Alexander Tubbs, Deer Creek, Minnesota, was the opening night chef, preparing to be the specialties chef for Tuesday, Jan. 23.

“The first night’s the craziest night. I’m excited,” Tubbs said on Jan 18. “I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s specials and how people enjoy them. Italian food is just great to experience.”

Armitage and Chef Benjamin Whitmore are proud of how the students behind the 2024 6th Street Eatery have demonstrated their drive and focus on a vision.

“I always talk with them about the importance of tension in making some big decisions, and they’ve dealt with that tension in a really good way,” Armitage said.

Abby Schaefer, Minot, North Dakota, was the opening night hostess.

“It’s very interesting,” she said. “This is my first time being a hostess, and it’s exciting that I get to meet everyone.”

Besides specialties, the 6th Street Eatery’s menus includes entrees like chicken parmesan and beef steak tagliata, pasta dishes including cacio e peppe and sausage lasagna and specialty pizzas. There are also side dishes including butcher boards, bruschetta and a full dessert menu of treats including tiramisu, cannoli and the gelato of the week.

“This is some of the most fun that we students get to have,” Tubbs said. “We just want to serve you good food. Come out and enjoy.”

For more information, including the numbers for reservations and take out orders, visit the 6th Street Eatery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Article published by Frank Stanko at Wahpeton Daily News on January 22, 2024.