Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) welcomed back Reese Fichter, a 2024 graduate of the Culinary Arts program and Upper Dublin High School, on March 5, 2026. She is currently in her second year at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is studying Baking and Pastry Arts with a minor in Sommelier Management. Reese was kind enough to speak with the AM session Culinary Arts students about her experiences so far at Johnson & Wales.

Reese shared with the students the many opportunities and culinary-related career paths available at Johnson & Wales University. She also explained that there are numerous scholarships available and encouraged students to check with their high school counselors for scholarship opportunities and applications. “It is an expensive school, but it is possible to get scholarships,” said Reese.

Baking and Pastry Arts have always been of interest to Reese, but she has found her minor in Sommelier Management to be challenging, intricate, and rewarding. “Learning about each grape is where it gets difficult,” said Reese. “It could come from five different countries, four different vineyards, etc. There is a distinction between every single wine.”

When Reese attended EASTERN, she was selected as the October 2023 Student of the Month. As a junior in the program, she emerged as a leader in the class and was nominated by Culinary Arts Instructional Aide Chef Nicole Suanlarm for a Women’s History Month student spotlight. She was also extremely active in EASTERN’s student leadership organization, SkillsUSA, where she earned a Silver Medal in the district-level Job Demonstration Competition for making Irish Potatoes. Reese was a member of EASTERN’s National Technical Honor Society and served as the student representative for the Culinary Arts Occupational Advisory Committee. At Upper Dublin High School, Reese enjoyed participating in Upper Dublin’s Mini-THON program, which raises money for pediatric cancer research.

Reese feels that her experiences in EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program put her ahead of some of her peers at Johnson & Wales University. “Thanks to EASTERN, I had all the basic skills,” said Reese. “Culinary is a competitive field, and you want to stand out. Unlike many of my peers, I did not have to take the ServSafe certification classes because I completed them at EASTERN. With the new kitchen renovations at EASTERN, I am impressed with how similar the setup is to Johnson & Wales. The transition to postsecondary for these students will be seamless.”

When Reese graduates from Johnson & Wales University in 2028, she plans to put her Sommelier training to work in the culinary world. Her long-term goal is to open her own bakery, where she will create unique pairings of wines and desserts, combining her passion for baking with her expertise in wine to craft memorable tasting experiences.