UAA Culinary Arts: Celebrating 30 Years of the Celebrity Chef Invitational

Support UAA Culinary Arts: 30 Days for $30,000

Culinary students in white chef coats and hats prepare elegant plated desserts in a professional kitchen at the 2024 Celebrity Chefs Invitational. Rows of meticulously plated chocolate tarts with purple garnishes line the tables as students focus on final touches.

Chef Puff in a white coat smiles while speaking at a podium during the 2024 Celebrity Chefs Invitational. Behind her, fellow chefs and attendees applaud under sparkling green and silver stage lights

A young server in a black chef’s coat carefully arranges plated chocolate desserts with purple garnishes on a serving tray in a professional kitchen during the 2024 Celebrity Chefs Invitational. Other chefs in white coats work in the background

Attendees at the 2024 Celebrity Chefs Invitational give a standing ovation. A man in a bow tie and glasses claps enthusiastically in the foreground, with other formally dressed guests smiling and applauding in the background.

Chef Puff in a white coat speaks passionately into a microphone during an interview at the 2024 Celebrity Chefs Invitational. The interviewer, wearing a chef’s hat and vest, listens attentively, while a cameraman captures the moment in a professional kitchen setting.

Guests in elegant attire enjoy dinner and conversation at the 2024 Celebrity Chefs Invitational. The ballroom is decorated with shimmering curtains and colorful lighting, with a stage and event presentation visible in the background.

For the past 30 years, the Celebrity Chef Invitational (CCI) has been the cornerstone fundraiser for the UAA Culinary Arts program, fueling its growth and impact in our community. If you can’t take a seat at this milestone event, you can still serve up incredible support with a gift. Your contribution is a key ingredient in sustaining the program’s legacy and ensuring a future full of opportunity for UAA Culinary Arts. Together, let’s stir up success for our students and strengthen the impact of this vital program in our community.

We are excited to announce that our 2025 Celebrity Chef is none other than Chef Tim Doebler, the founder of this prestigious event in 1993, who will recreate the original menu with modern updates.

Why We’re Raising Funds?...FOR OUR STUDENTS!

This campaign celebrates 30 years of culinary excellence while investing in the next generation of culinary professionals. Your support enables us to provide life-changing scholarships, enhance student learning with cutting-edge equipment, and ensure faculty stay ahead of industry trends. These efforts prepare our students not only for successful careers but also to contribute to Anchorage’s hospitality and tourism industries, driving innovation and creating lasting community impact. Together, we’re building a legacy of excellence and opportunity.

Economic Impact
UAA Culinary Arts graduates are the backbone of Anchorage’s hospitality and tourism industries, creating jobs, driving innovation, and elevating the dining experience in our community. By investing in their education, you’re also strengthening our local economy.

The Student Journey
From aspiring chefs to accomplished professionals, our students embark on a transformative journey, gaining skills, confidence, and connections that launch their careers.

Your Impact
Every dollar makes a difference:

Student Success: Scholarships that open doors for future culinary leaders.
Provide Opportunities: Open doors for students through scholarships.
Program Excellence: Upgraded equipment and technology that prepare students for real-world careers.
Inspire Excellence: Support programs that keep UAA Culinary Arts at the forefront of education and innovation.
Community Impact: Graduates who fuel Anchorage’s hospitality industry and strengthen our local economy

A chef instructor in a white coat gestures while teaching a group of culinary students in a professional kitchen. The students, dressed in white uniforms and hats, attentively listen as they stand in front of a red brick wall with hanging kitchen tools.

Two culinary students in white chef uniforms and hats focus on a recipe in a professional kitchen. One student, wearing glasses, reads from a sheet of paper, while the other listens attentively. Hanging ladles and whisks frame the scene.

A smiling culinary student in a white chef’s uniform and hat proudly holds a tray of freshly baked pastries in a professional kitchen. Large industrial mixers and baking equipment are visible in the background

A culinary instructor in a striped apron guides a student in a white chef’s coat and black hat through a pastry display in a professional kitchen. They examine an assortment of freshly baked croissants and bagels on a metal rack.

Join us in making an impact. Be part of this milestone 30-year celebration and help shape the future of culinary excellence. Together, we can honor the past, support the present, and invest in the future of our students and community.

Levels

Choose a giving level

$30

The Essentials Plate

Your gift could support essential tools and resources that help students thrive in their culinary journey, such as professional attire or learning materials.

Contribute $30

$300

The Chef's Table

Your contribution could provide a student with high-quality equipment needed to master their craft and build a foundation for a successful culinary career.

Contribute $300

$3,000

The Masterpiece Level

Your generosity could make a transformative impact by helping a student access critical financial assistance, empowering them to pursue their culinary dreams without financial barriers.

Contribute $3,000

UAA Culinary Arts: 30 Years of the Celebrity Chef Invitational

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