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.
September 17, 2018
San Diego, CA ---- Today, San Diego Mesa College announced that Taste of Mesa, the popular fundraiser benefiting the Culinary Arts Management Program, will take place on Thursday October 4 at 6:00pm in Culinary Outlook, located in the Mesa Commons. Taste of Mesa is an exciting cooking-show style event that will feature internationally-inspired cuisine, tastings, demonstrations and three cook-off competitions between alumni, students and an advanced baking team. The ticketed event is open to the public.
“You don’t want to miss this event,” stated Dr. Pamela Luster, President. “These students are the future of San Diego’s popular food scene – in fact - if you have been to any restaurant in San Diego, chances are good that a portion your meal may have been prepared by a Mesa College Culinary Arts student.”
This year, Mesa will have more students competing in the cooking contests – and while the students are competing, guests can watch them from inside the kitchen or while they enjoy tapas on the patio. Alumni and current students in the industry will be creating their signature dishes. Sous Chef Eric Benjamin from Belize and Line cook Andrew Flietz from Georges at the Cove are just two of the 2018 Taste of Mesa Signature Chefs for the evening.
Guests will also be able to bid in the silent auction on exclusive celebrity chef experiences, consisting of private dinners with local favorites Chef Kevin Templeton of Barleymash, Chef Davin & Jessica Waite of Wrench & Rodent, and Chef David Chenelle of FourPenny House. VIP ticketholders are invited to judge and taste, both the culinary and cake decorating competitions, enjoy private tours of the garden and kitchens, and receive a culinary gift bag.
The proceeds from “Taste of Mesa” will be used to purchase ingredients 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. See the 2017 Taste of Mesa photo album.
“The students need to learn what is changing in the industry, and we need to teach them more before they leave,” Culinary Arts/Management Professor Tonya Whitfield said. “With this fundraiser, we can do more for them.”
Tickets for the Taste of Mesa are $25 for students, $10 for children 12 and under, $50 for the general public and $75 for VIP.
To purchase tickets, visit www.sdmesa.edu/tasteofmesa.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Krista Stellmacher, Director of Development at [email protected] or 619-388-2285.
For alumni involvement information, contact Professor Tonya Whitfield at [email protected].
Tags: Culinary Arts, Press Release, CACM, 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.
