October 14, 2022
More than 70 SMJUHSD Culinary Arts students at the Mark Richardson Career Technical Education
Center and Ag Farm are doing their part to provide healthy food for those facing hunger in the Santa
Maria Valley and Santa Barbara County.
The students, who are from SMHS, PVHS, SMHS and DHS, are preparing tasty pork and chicken
pozole, to fill handmade bowls for the 2022 Santa Maria Empty Bowls Event at the SM Fairpark on
Oct. 26. The effort benefits the Santa Barbara County Food Bank.
“I love the idea of helping other people,” said SMHS senior Finees Balderas.
CTE Teacher/Chef Russel Thomas said the project is “great” way for students to give back to the
community.
“This is a wonderful team building exercise where we create something from nothing – that’s
delicious,” Thomas added.
The center currently has five programs for the 2022-2023 school year. They include AG Farm,
Construction, Culinary, Diesel and Machining. The center also has more than 25 industry partners.
SMJUHSD Media Contact: Public Information Officer Kenny Klein
805-709-1454 or [email protected]