Middleburgh Teen Cooking up Bright Future in the Family Business

ALBANY – A Middleburgh High School senior is building a recipe for success at Capital Region BOCES as she prepares to enter the family business.

Alyssa Lawyer is in the second year of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology program at the Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus. There, she is learning the skills necessary to enter the workforce as a chef or pursue additional training in college. Graduates work in restaurants and resorts around the region and beyond, own their establishment and even prepare food for professional sporting events.

Lawyer’s goal is to be ready to work in—and eventually run—the family business in Middleburgh.

“I plan to go to work for my grandmother’s restaurant—Mrs. K’s Kitchen—on Main Street. One day, I hope to take it over,” she said.

She said despite growing up around an eatery, BOCES has taught her many new things.

“We learn a lot of different things, things I have never done before,” she said while preparing to bake a gingerbread cake.

“I like the atmosphere a lot. It’s very professional,” she said.

Lawyer’s teacher Chef Chris Snye praised the young chef.

“Alyssa entered our program with an open mind and eager to learn. Typically, if a student has prior foodservice experience it is a challenge to teach them various skills and to break them of habits they may have learned in past experiences.  Alyssa has shown that keeping open mind when learning even basic tasks can further your skill set,” Snye said.

“Alyssa has a bright future ahead of her in her family business and beyond,” he added.

Lawyer is among more than 100 students who are enrolled in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology program on the Albany and Schoharie campuses this school year.

For more information on the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology program. visit https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/culinary-arts-hospitality-technology/