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Community Corner

Local Athens Technical College student named winner of The Classic Center Cultural Foundation inaugural culinary scholarship

ATHENS, Ga. – The Classic Center Cultural Foundation is pleased to announce Nick Thomas as the winner of its first ever culinary scholarship competition.

Thomas, 27, a student in Athens Technical College’s culinary arts program, was among three scholarship finalists who were selected to prepare a dish during Athens Wine Weekend at The Classic Center that was judged by a panel of three local chefs.

His winning dish was a pan seared lamb with red wine pomegranate sauce, basil pate' choux dumpling and carrots mint glace'.

Thomas will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and his school’s culinary program will receive $500. He is a graduate of North Springs High School in Atlanta.

“I am very excited to receive this scholarship, because it opens up new doors in my culinary education and will contribute greatly to my career,” he said. “Not only will it help fund the essentials such as tuition and books but it will give me flexibility to pursue all the facets and areas that the culinary arts has to offer. In the culinary industry, investing in your education is paramount and The Classic Center Cultural Foundation has become a major catalyst in helping me realize that investment.”

The Classic Center Cultural Foundation’s mission is to support the youth in our community by helping to further their education in the arts. The Foundation also offers performing arts scholarships for local high school students.

Thomas was named the scholarship winner Saturday during the Athens Wine Weekend Gourmet Dinner.

The panel of judges included Chris McCook, executive chef at Athens Country Club, Scott Howard, director of the Athens Technical College’s culinary arts program and Shayne Taylor, chef at The Georgia Club.

The other two scholarship finalists were Tanner Brady, a senior at Madison County High School and Imelda Nelson, a student in Athens Technical College’s culinary arts program.

Visit ClassicCenter.com for more information on the scholarships provided by The Classic Center Cultural Foundation.

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