The Wagner High School Culinary Arts program welcomed a distinguished guest today as Universal City Mayor Tom Maxwell toured the campus’s commercial kitchen and spent time speaking with students about their futures in the culinary industry.
Mayor Maxwell brings with him a remarkable 24-year military career, during which he served in numerous positions including superintendent of Officer and NCO club operations, training instructor, member of the Air Training Command Inspector General team, and Marketing Director for the Army Air Force Exchange Service. Following his military service, Maxwell completed an additional 27 years of civil service as the Food and Beverage Manager at the Education and Training Command and the Air Force Services Agency.
As he walked through the busy kitchen, Mayor Maxwell watched students prep ingredients for their monthly staff meal, a project where they plan a complete restaurant experience from menu design to budgeting, purchasing, and execution. The mayor was impressed by the professionalism and skill on display.
“I wish I had this kind of experience when I was in school,” he told the class, noting that their current experience is giving them a head start that many students never receive.
Sharing stories from his decades of experience in food service operations, Maxwell highlighted the wide array of opportunities awaiting them after graduation. He emphasized that the hands-on learning happening in their kitchen opens doors across industries and around the world.
“Because of what you are learning here, there are thousands of jobs available to you,” he said, encouraging them to dream big and avoid placing limits on their goals.
Maxwell shared that culinary students have access to pursue careers in hospitality, management, food science, military food service, restaurant ownership, and more.
Wagner’s Culinary Arts program ensures that students leave high school not only with the practical skills needed to enter the workforce, but also with an Industry Certification that gives them a competitive advantage in hiring and career advancement.
Thank you to Mayor Maxwell for spending time with our students and sharing his vast experience. His visit reinforced that through hands-on learning in JISD Career and Technical Education programs, students are building the confidence, skills, and industry-ready knowledge that prepare them for their futures.