R. Earl Frederick, Clark College cuisine management professor, received the 2022 Community Outreach Honorable Mention Award from the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education.

The national award recognizes a culinary/hospitality program or individuals making a positive impact in their community. Frederick said, “I’m a big community guy. I always like to give back and make sure people get some nourishing food.” The award recognized his dedication to serving others. Here are a few of the college projects he has spearheaded:

• The inaugural launch of Clark College’s Juneteenth celebration. This event realized Chef Frederick’s dream of creating a college event for a holiday he celebrated with his family all his life.
  
  The Juneteenth celebration first occurred during COVID’s social distancing regulations. Last year, more than 100 students and supporters drove through an outdoor tent and picked up a lunch of barbecued meats, traditional Southern sides and baked hand pies created by Clark pastry students — all packaged in boxes printed with Black history information. The participants made their way through the parking lot listening to classic R&B tunes while picking up their meals. The Juneteenth celebration has become an annual college event.

• Penguin Pantry is the food pantry for food-insecure Clark College students. Last year, Frederick offered Thanksgiving Meals to Penguin Pantry participants. Through fundraisers, Frederick and his students raised over $3,000 to serve 333 Thanksgiving Meals which equated to more than 4,000 pounds of donated food.

• Frederick and his students partnered with Peace Health Hospice and local firefighters last Thanksgiving. Clark College students made holiday meals that were delivered by various firemen to 17 local hospice families.

Clark said this of his commitment to community outreach, “Food is just a vehicle we use to build community.”