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April 06, 2010

Gwinnett Tech's Chef Kerri Crean Receives 2010 Educator of the Year Award from American Culinary Federation's Atlanta Chapter

First woman to win Educator of the Year Award from ACF's local group

Chef Kerri Crean, CSC, CCE, the Culinary Arts program director for Gwinnett Technical College, has been named 2010 Educator of the Year by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Greater Atlanta Chapter. Chef Crean is the first woman in the Atlanta area to receive this award from the ACF.

The Educator of the Year Award pays tribute to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and expertise have enhanced the image of the professional chef, and who has provided leadership, guidance and direction to students seeking a career in the culinary profession. The award recipient also demonstrates the ability to help students define and develop their careers by providing a strong foundation for their success.

"I am humbled by this award and by the opportunity to be a part of the Culinary Arts program here at Gwinnett Tech," says Chef Crean.  "It's particularly an honor to be the first woman in the Atlanta area to be recognized for the award by the ACF."

Rusty Sigmon, vice president of the ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter, explains, "Kerri is a very deserving recipient of this prestigious award. With this mindset, it never entered into our decision-making process that she was male or female…but to the best of my knowledge she is the first female in Atlanta to be presented this award."

"We're delighted that Kerri's excellence as an educator, her leadership in culinary education and her commitment to her students has been so appropriately recognized by the ACF," says Sharon Bartels, Gwinnett Tech president.

Crean, who led Gwinnett Tech's Culinary Arts program to earn national accreditation from the American Culinary Foundation's Education Foundation in December 2008, joined the faculty at the college six years ago. She received her degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, SC. Crean has worked for over 20 years in the food industry, including as a private chef/personal chef, as well as in fine dining catering, fine dining restaurants and family/quick-service restaurants throughout the Southeast. She has taught Culinary Arts for 12 years.

Gwinnett Tech is one of just seven technical colleges in the state to offer a nationally accredited Culinary Arts program. The program covers every aspect of modern cooking and trains students in the specialties of baking, hors d'oeurvres, pantry presentation and banquet-style dining. The program also teaches students how to run a restaurant by providing a foundation in the managerial and personal skills that are needed to interact with customers, manage employees and successfully operate a business.

The Culinary Arts associate degree at GTC can be completed in about two years.  Gwinnett Tech also offers a diploma in Culinary Arts, as well as several specialized certificate options.

GTC offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate program options that you can finish in two years or less.  For more information on all programs, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.