Enjoy internationally inspired cuisine, live cooking competitions and an evening supporting the next generation of culinary professionals
Psychology major Emerald Moreno is inspired by a passion for understanding and interpreting others, along with a deep faith that psychology is her calling. She plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, minor in Spanish, and continue exploring a future in law.
After a major surgery and months of recovery, Tracey Kushner faced a decision that would reshape her future. In 2024, she returned to San Diego Mesa College determined to finish the degree she had started years earlier.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Mesa College proudly celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026, honoring 1,958 graduates who earned more than 2,017 academic degrees and 414 certificates. A total of 727 graduates participated in the ceremony, joined by family, friends, faculty, staff, and community supporters.
March 27, 2017
San Diego, CA ---- The two celebrity guest chefs who will be participating in “Taste of Mesa,” San Diego Mesa Colleges cooking-show style fundraiser, will now be able to use locally sourced herbs and vegetables, thanks to Culinary Outlook’s new rooftop garden.
“We are serious about sustainability and using locally sourced foods whenever possible,” stated Mesa College Assistant Culinary Arts Professor Tonya Whitfield. “We were fortunate enough so far to get everything donated by our industry partners. What better way to stay local than to plant your own garden using local resources?”
The new rooftop garden features cauliflower, leeks, watermelon, honeydew, carrots, turnips, a variety of heirloom tomatoes (black, orange, pineapple),cabbage, kale, and chard. Chef Flor Franco helped Mesa faculty organize and plan the garden, and she collaborated with two master Gardeners from San Diego on the choice of plants. Sergio, Head Gardener from Michelle Lerach’s estate assisted Culinary students as they planted. All the compost was generous donated from Jack Ford’s farm in conjunction with HIS STEM Director Leticia Lopez from SEEDS.
Celebrity guests attending the fundraiser, scheduled for the evening of Thursday April 6, are Kevin Templeton, Executive Chef of Barleymash, San Diego Celebrity Chef 2014-15 and recently featured on Food Network’s ‘Beat Bobby Flay’, along with Maeve, founder and owner of Sugar and Scribe, Food Network Champion 2015 and winner of Best Bakery, Best New Restaurant La Jolla.
“Taste of Mesa” will showcase Culinary Outlook, and feature internationally-inspired cuisine and three cook-off competitions between alumni, students and an advanced baking team. Guests will be able to bid on food-themed silent auction items such as restaurant gift cards, liquors, wine and culinary tools. VIP ticketholders are invited to judge the culinary competitions, watch the celebrity chef competition, and receive a culinary gift bag. Culinary Outlook, housed in the new Mesa Commons, was funded by voters via Propositions S and N.
The proceeds from “Taste of Mesa” will be used to purchase ingredients and supplies that will help train students for the farm to table style restaurants that are becoming more common in today’s market and prepare them to become valued employees in the service industry.
Tickets for the Taste of Mesa are $25 for students, $50 for General Admission and $125 for VIP. For tickets, visit www.sdmesa.edu/tasteofmesa. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Anne Zacovic at [email protected]. For alumni involvement, contact Professor Tonya Whitfield at [email protected].
Tags: Press Release, Culinary Arts, Taste of Mesa
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
[email protected]
(619) 388-2759
Enjoy internationally inspired cuisine, live cooking competitions and an evening supporting the next generation of culinary professionals
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Mesa College proudly celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026, honoring 1,958 graduates who earned more than 2,017 academic degrees and 414 certificates. A total of 727 graduates participated in the ceremony, joined by family, friends, faculty, staff, and community supporters.
San Diego, CA — San Diego Mesa College will honor its 2026 scholarship recipients during the 33rd Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 recognizing the academic excellence, resilience, and aspirations of its students. This year, the college will award nearly $250,000 across 114 scholarship opportunities, resulting in 281 individual awards to 202 students. Sixty students will receive multiple scholarships, underscoring both their accomplishments and the Mesa College community’s continued commitment to student success.
