It is all about the big picture for Proviso East High School culinary students who recently participated in the inaugural “Think Big” initiative launched to inspire students to dream outside their high school walls.
The brain child of Isiah Brandon, 2006 Proviso East alum and current village of Maywood trustee, “Think Big” was created to inspire students to think about “who they are, who they can become and what they can achieve.”
Proviso East students, along with Maywood Village Trustee Isiah Brandon, meet with staff at the Salamander Middleburg Resort and Spa as part of the first ‘Think Big’ initiative.
Selected students traveled for a weekend to the Salamander Resort, a five-star resort and spa in Middleburg, Virginia, to immerse themselves and observe first-class knowledge from East alum Sheila Crump Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts.
“With her being from Maywood and from Proviso, we specifically thought it would be a great idea to connect students to her,” Brandon said. “In the culinary art sector already it just made sense they get connected to her and what she is doing on a huge level.”
Brandon said he had the idea to connect culinary art students with Johnson to help get the initiative off the ground and bring it to fruition – with help from Superintended Krish Mohip, who he said was onboard right away.
Brandon said students were greeted by Johnson herself and the Proviso East fight song, a moment he called “amazing.”
At the resort, Brandon said students were treated with a full VIP experience, getting to try fine dining full-course meals.
The six selected students who traveled to Middleburg were engaged in a “hands-on” kitchen experience including food demonstrations, etiquette classes and a fun scavenger hunt.
According to Brandon, Johnson was there every step of the way to provide continuous encouragement to students.
“The students had certainly never experienced something like that at that level ever,” Brandon said, adding teachers also enjoyed participation. “Everyone who was on the trip was in awe of the experience that was provided.”
The merger between education and hands-on experience, combined with seeing the success of a Proviso East alum in Johnson, created an amazing experience for students, Brandon said.
“I believe it would get their minds to think higher of what they can achieve, just through that experience,” he told Forest Park Review.
Brandon said further internship opportunities have also been for future students through the continuation of the initiative funded by Johnson.
“It’s the doors that it has opened for Proviso students to be able to experience this level of excellence, I think it is amazing,” Brandon said. “I am looking forward to this partnership we have created from this one experience.”
Nicholas Owen, director of food and beverage at Salamander Middleburg, said they “truly enjoyed” having the students visit.
“Welcoming these students and sharing a day in the life of hospitality reminded me that the future of our industry is bright,” Owen said. “This career has given me purpose, connection, and opportunity. Again I’m grateful to see this inspire the next generation.”