Wekiva Culinary program director wins 2026 Technology Award

Wekiva Culinary program director wins 2026 Technology Award

https://theapopkachief.com/wekiva-culinary-program-director-wins-2026-technology-award/

Publish Date: 2026-05-18 17:11:00

Source Domain: theapopkachief.com

Chef Christopher Bates, program director of the Magnet Academy of Culinary Arts at Wekiva High School, recently won the 2026 Technology Award from the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ). 

“This win is another example of the hard work Chef Bates puts into this program for his students,” said Melissa Byrd, Orange County School Board District 7 member, in a text message to The Apopka Chief. “He is constantly striving to provide the Culinary Magnet students with every opportunity to grow their skills in a meaningful way that makes them workforce ready.” 

The award includes a $1,000 check, an opportunity for a profile in CAFÉ’s e-magazine titled “The Gold Medal Classroom,” andregistration for CAFÉ’s 2026 Deans & Directors Retreat and Leadership Conference in Chicago, according to the award letter.  

Become A Member

The Apopka Chief does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible.

See Member BenefitsJoin Our Newsletter

“We follow some pretty unique and occasionally controlled chaos, crazy ideas that pop into my head, and we try them, and they work a lot of the time,” Bates said in a phone interview with the Chief. “It’s just nice to see that the national organization that is dedicated to the advancement of culinary education sees what we’re doing over here in this tiny little high school in Wekiva and recognizes it as being outstanding.” 

But Bates is most excited about winning an all-expense-paid three-day training conference at RATIONAL, which he calls “the best producer of intelligent ovens in the world.” 

“It’s not just that you’re going to do training — you’re spending time with the people who designed it, who engineered it, who crafted the software that makes it work,” Bates said. “I’m getting to pick the brains of the people who train like the executive chef for Ritz-Carlton — and…

Source