SUNY Delhi Culinary Arts Major Nation's Best Student Chef

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"Katie is exceptionally talented and we are thrilled to see her recognized as the best student chef in the nation," said President Candace Vancko.

DELHI, NY (08/08/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi culinary arts major Kathryn Eurich of Warwick, N.Y., has won the 2015 American Culinary Arts Federation (ACF) national "Student Chef of the Year" title at the ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla., July 30–August 3. This prestigious title recognizes the best up-and-coming culinary student in the nation.

Eurich is the first SUNY Delhi student to win this title and earned her trip to the national competition by winning the 2015 ACF Northeast Regional "Student Chef of the Year." She competed against three other student competitors-southeast regional winner Elxis Dodson (The Art Institute of Jacksonville, Fla.), central regional winner Diamond Taylor (Joliet Junior College, Ill.) and western regional winner Madeline Bauer (Oregon Coast Culinary Institute).

Eurich is a senior in SUNY Delhi's Culinary Arts bachelor's degree program. She is an active member of the student culinary club and has assisted the college's hot food team during competitions. Eurich received a gold and a bronze medal in 2014 at ACF-sanctioned competitions. Her goal following graduation is to move to New York City and someday own her own restaurant.

"Katie is exceptionally talented and we are thrilled to see her recognized as the best student chef in the nation," said President Candace Vancko. "Her success is the latest example of how Delhi's culinary arts program helps students achieve exceptional results."

SUNY Delhi's culinary arts program has long been recognized as one of the best in the country. The college's hot food team has the distinction as being the only team from New York State to have claimed the national title, winning in 2010 and 2012. The team has won a total of 11 American Culinary Federation State Championships and the ACF Northeastern Regional Championship six times in the past 13 years. SUNY Delhi students and faculty have won hundreds of ACF medals at local, regional and national events.

Eurich was coached by SUNY Delhi culinary arts alumni, Chef Victor Sommo '01 (lead coach) and Chef Brianne Slocum '09, and Chef Sean Pehrsson. "Special recognition and thanks go out to the chef instructors and coaches," said David Brower, Assistant Provost and Hospitality Department Chair. "Their commitment to student achievement is unparalleled and solidifies SUNY Delhi as the leader in culinary education in New York State."

SUNY Delhi's Culinary Arts programs offer graduates a firm foundation from which to start their careers as professionals. Students can choose from a variety of specialized courses depending on their interest or direction in the field, including advanced meat cutting, culinary competition, advanced pastries and confections, and culinary sculpting, a course in which students learn to sculpt 300-pound ice blocks made in the campus lab. A capstone course, Signatures by Candlelight, gives students the experience of operating a full-service, fine dining restaurant that is open to the public.

Culinary Arts is part of SUNY Delhi's award-winning Hospitality Management. Delhi offers two- and four-year degree programs in Hotel and Resort Management, Restaurant and Foodservice Management, Event Management, and Culinary Arts.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 20,000 members spanning 225 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeships and programmatic accreditation.

For more information about SUNY Delhi's Culinary Arts program, visit www.delhi.edu.