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Culinary students at MVHS bake pies for competition fundraiser and donations

Culinary students at MVHS bake pies for competition fundraiser and donations

Students in the Culinary Arts 3 class at Mount Vernon High School have been putting their skills to use to bake pies for their competition fundraiser, with any pies that they don't sell being donated to local organizations ahead of Thanksgiving! Students are raising money to attend the New York State Restaurant Association ProStart Invitational at the Culinary Institute of America in February. 

Students baked coconut custard, sweet potato and apple crumble pies. The apple crumble pies were made with a personal touch, as Culinary Arts Teacher Samantha Cohen shared her grandmother’s recipe with the students. About eight students plan to compete in the cooking competition, so they are raising money for transportation and hotels to accommodate them.

The competition, which several students competed in last year, provides students with the opportunity to earn scholarships and compete in different activities such as cooking burgers. Both students who competed last year earned a $2,000 renewable scholarship to Johnson & Wales University.

After families were displaced by the fire in Mount Vernon over the weekend, Chef Cohen decided to pledge the remainder of their pies to support the families ahead of Thanksgiving with handmade desserts. 

Teacher pouring milk into bowl with two students watching.
Pie crust filled with coconut.
Student preparing pie to go in oven.
Two students filling pies.


 

A group of nursing students in navy scrubs pose in front of a screen displaying "NURSING ASSISTANT" with trophies on shelves in the background.

Twelve Mount Vernon High School students in blue scrubs received their nursing assistant certificates on Thursday after a rigorous two-year Career and Technical Education pathway that combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience.The graduates successfully completed 108 hours of clinical work at United Hebrew Senior Living, gaining valuable real-world experience while preparing for careers in healthcare. 

Boy with dreadlocks and goatee

When Jahni Rolland arrived in Mount Vernon from the Caribbean in the summer of 2023, he faced the challenge of adapting to a new country, a new culture and an entirely different way of life. Three years later, he has earned the title of Mount Vernon High School salutatorian while also becoming an all-league football player and role model for younger students.

MVHS valedictorian Mizzen Bajramoski balances academic excellence and athletic leadership

For Mount Vernon High School valedictorian Mizzen Bajramoski, success has never been measured solely by grades, class rank or accolades. Yes, she graduates at the very top of her class and will head to Stony Brook University in the fall to study nursing and, yes, she earned scholarships galore, maintained Principal’s Honor Roll status and balanced a rigorous academic load. But when you ask Mizzen what she is most proud of, she mentions being a captain.  

A man stands in front of a presentation screen displaying an autism awareness graphic, with colorful posters about historical events on the wall behind him.

Mount Vernon High School Academic and Career Exploration (ACE) Program students shared their knowledge and creativity through engaging PowerPoint presentations and sensory-based activities designed to promote understanding and inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The project began with meaningful classroom discussions where students reflected on what they already knew about autism and shared personal experiences involving themselves, friends and/or family members with the diagnosis.

Students posing for the camera.

Mount Vernon High School Career and Technical Education Nursing Assistant students provided aid during the school’s blood drive on Monday morning through New York Blood Center. Aspiring nurses helped monitor donors after they gave blood, ensuring they felt well afterwards. Many donors were students and staff of the District, contributing to a good cause by saving up to three lives per donation.

Snapshot from MVHS ACE Earth day celebration.

Mount Vernon High School’s Earth Day celebration brought together a warm and lively group of students, families, and staff for a meaningful morning of learning and community. Parents joined alongside teachers, Coach Florez, Mr. Green, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Francis, and Mr. Fingerling, each accompanied by their classes, to support the student-led presentations and activities.

Teenager with braided hair in headshot

In the first edition of Shining on to Graduation, Mount Vernon High School senior Zorien discusses how he leads through discipline, resilience and steady effort amid dreams of becoming a professional football player. You can read more about Zorien, whose graduation and college are right around the corner, on our website here.