EASTERN Culinary Arts Student Chosen for Congress-Bundestag Scholarship

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Culinary Arts/Upper Dublin High School senior, Donovan Calhoun, was chosen as one of only 25 students selected throughout the nation to participate in the Congress-Bundestag program. The Congress-Bundestag Vocational Scholarship provides an opportunity for U.S. high school graduates who have undertaken vocational training to spend their 13th year abroad pursuing their vocational interests. This scholarship is provided through NACEL Open Door, Inc.  Nacel Open Door, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to international understanding and language education.

Donovan submitted a lengthy application for the Congress-Bundestag scholarship back in January 2014, which included several essays, transcripts from Upper Dublin High School and from his career and technical program at EASTERN, a passport photo, and several recommendation letters.  Once he was selected as a semi-finalist, he interviewed with the NACEL Open Door panel in March.  On April 4, Donovan received the phone call he had been waiting for, and was told he was accepted into this prestigious program.

Soon, Donovan will be given information on his host family and where he will be going to school and/or interning.  Donovan would love to intern with a Chef at a prestigious hotel or resort in Germany, but he is excited about the opportunity no matter where he is placed.

In light of this once in a life time opportunity, Donovan has deferred attending Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, until his return.  Johnson & Wales has agreed to also defer a $9,000 scholarship per year that Donovan has been awarded. He will be enrolled in Johnson & Wales Food and Service Entrepreneurship program.

“I am so grateful and humbled to say that I am an EASTERN student,” said Donovan.  “If it were not for my instructors, Chef Albert, Chef Marucheck, and Chef Granacher, I would not be where I am today.  Also, with the strong support of EASTERN’s faculty and staff, I am able to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity.”

EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program enables students to acquire a variety of skills including soup and sauce preparation, preparation of meat, fish and poultry entrees, baking, kitchen sanitation, purchasing and inventory controls.

EASTERN is a public school serving students in nine Eastern Montgomery County school districts. Those districts include Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland. Students benefit from specialized career programs that give them a competitive edge in college or in a career.  The campus is at 3075 Terwood Road in Willow Grove. For more information, please contact Amy Shields, Organizational Advancement Director, at 215-784-4806, or visit the school’s website at www.eastech.org.  Like Us?  Become a fan on Facebook – www.Facebook.com/EasternCenter, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @EasternCenter.

Photo: Donovan Calhoun