Culinary Instructor Stephanie Hughes Named Chef of the Year

Kalamazoo Valley culinary instructor Chef Stephanie L. Hughes, MBA, was named The 2018 Chef of The Year by The American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chapter of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek on Tuesday, February 5 during its ACF awards dinner at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's 418 Restaurant in the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health building in downtown Kalamazoo.

More than 100 area chefs were eligible for the award. Chef Stephanie received the most votes from among the local chapter members. Hughes serves as a culinary instructor for Kalamazoo Valley's Sustainable Food Systems program. She has more than 10 years of culinary experience throughout the Midwest. She joined Kalamazoo Valley in 2014. "This is a very meaningful award and I was honored just to be nominated. Working with our students at Valley inspires me every day, I share this award with them," she said.

Chef Stephanie, along with chef instructor colleagues Joel Boone, Cory Barrett and Brian Hay were also nominated for Culinary Educator of The Year for their work at Kalamazoo Valley.

Kalamazoo Valley student Cameron "Biip" Cline was selected as Culinary Student of The Year.

The Culinary Arts and Sustainable Food Systems program at Kalamazoo Valley is accredited by the American Culinary Federation, assuring that the program meets at least a minimum of standards and competencies set for faculty, curriculum and student services. ACFEF is the national accrediting commission for culinary and pastry education programs at postsecondary institutions and secondary programs.