“Winning the competition meant so much to me,” says Yepez, who grew up in Los Angeles. “It showed that you can actually live your dreams and push forward for them to come true. And being at The Culinary Institute of America is the greatest way to pursue those dreams.” She is currently completing her externship field study at the Sea Island Resort in Georgia, and plans to start her own catering business and become an executive chef after earning her bachelor's degree in management from the CIA.
Among the judges at the ACT-SO competition were CIA ambassador and former faculty member Arnym Solomon '69, who also presented awards to all the winners, and Susan Wolfla '94, executive chef at Mandalay Bay.
Photo: Frehdee Gatewood of Houston accepts congratulations from Arnym Solomon of The Culinary Institute of America after winning the culinary competition at the 2014 NAACP Academic Cultural & Technology and Scientific Olympics. Gatewood earned a scholarship to the CIA, joining the 2012 and 2013 winners as students at the Hyde Park campus. Courtesy Arnym Solomon