2016-2017 Educator Mini Grant Recognition 

Students, teachers, dignitaries and family at San Fernando High had their taste buds dazzled on Friday, March 17 when the school’s CTE students and teachers staged their version of the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars”.

Funded by a LAUSD School Improvement Grant Central Office “ Educator Mini-Grant”, the competition was the idea of San Fernando High’s Culinary Arts Teacher Tina Hartounian, and was the culmination of months of work by the entire CTE Department – Hartounian, Art Teacher Tarah Davis, Wood Teacher Patrick Long, and Music Teacher Sergio Alonso.  Long’s students built the sets and display cabinets, Davis’ students decorated the sets, made the costumes, and did other illustrations, while Alonso’s award-winning music program provided the music to the early 1960’s themed event.  Getting teachers to collaborate is one of the main goals of SIG “Educator Mini-Grants”.

All the work on the cupcakes, from concept to preparation to serving was done by San Fernando High’s Culinary Arts students.

“Its truly amazing what kids can do when put to a test,” said Hartounian.  “They learned to work together, and work hard.  Better yet, they saw their hard work pay off in a big way.”

The cupcakes were judged by noted Southern California Chefs Antonia Lofaso, owns three LA area restaurants and has been featured on the TV show Top Chef, Joleen Medina, a classically trained chef who owns the Sweet Design bakery in Granada Hills, and Christian Navarro, who made a name in the culinary arts world by being the personal chef to numerous music celebrities.

Principal Flora Mendoza-Werner was proud of the work of her CTE teachers and students.

“What our teachers and students did was amazing, simply amazing,” said Mendoa-Werner.  “It just shows what they are capable of doing.  All of the San Fernando High community is so proud of their efforts.”