Spring '25 Graduation Awards
The New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) proudly celebrated the graduation of its Spring 2025 cohort, with 32 students completing certificate programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. The ceremony, held at NOCHI’s campus in the heart of downtown New Orleans, was filled with cheers, hugs, and a deep sense of accomplishment as graduates stepped into the next chapter of their hospitality careers.
Chef Martha Wiggins of Café Reconcile delivered the keynote address, drawing from her own culinary journey and encouraging graduates to embrace the transformational power of hospitality.
“You are the only one who can define or devalue your worth. Now you know and we all know, without a doubt, you are so worthy. With this certificate of completion, you know you can accomplish goals that may have once seemed out of reach.”
As part of the celebration, NOCHI presented several awards recognizing outstanding achievement, resilience, and leadership among the students:
🎓 Valedictorian
Karissa Jackson – Baking & Pastry Arts
Lizzie Algero – Culinary Arts
Awarded to the students with the highest GPA, this honor reflects consistent excellence across every subject and station.
🎓 Salutatorian
Melanie Londoño – Baking & Pastry Arts
Jean Werner – Culinary Arts
This award recognizes the students with the second highest GPA in each program, a testament to their strong work ethic and commitment.
✨ Laurence Rua Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Krystle Pitcher – Culinary Arts
Awarded in memory of Laurence Rua, a beloved leader in the hospitality industry, this Sodexo Live! scholarship recognizes a student who shows promise as a future leader and an inspiring presence in the kitchen. The winner will travel to Sodexo headquarters in Paris for a week-long immersive experience where she will visit and train with world-class chefs and hospitality professionals at Sodexo-operated properties like the Michelin-starred Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower; the luxury dinner cruises along the Seine; and The Lenôtre School of Culinary Arts.
🤝 Ti Adelaide Martin Hospitality Hero Award
Alvin Johnson – Culinary Arts
Presented by Lelia Lambert, COO of Commander’s Palace, this award goes to a student who lives and breathes hospitality—through kindness, leadership, and grace in every interaction, especially during the student-run pop-up restaurant.
🌾 Fleur de Wheat Award
Lizzie Algero – Culinary Arts
Selected through a combination of peer nominations and faculty review, this award is given to the student who most fully embodies NOCHI’s mission: to elevate the hospitality industry with skill, care, and collaboration.
🔪 Alma Knife Company Award
Necie Johnson – Culinary Arts
This award supports a student from an underrepresented background who has demonstrated resilience, passion, and leadership potential in the face of personal or professional challenges.
🥄 Golden Whisk Perfect Attendance Award
Lizzie Algero, Tiarra "Kizzy" Danner, Marya Kircher, Rilynn Todd – Culinary Arts
Karissa Jackson – Baking & Pastry Arts
Presented by Student Success Coordinator Amy Bryant, this award honors students who never missed a single day—an impressive mark of dedication and professionalism.
NOCHI’s immersive, six-month certificate programs include 650 hours of hands-on training and real-world experience in kitchens, classrooms, and pop-up restaurants. With each cohort, NOCHI continues to shape the future of hospitality—one student at a time.
Applications are open now for future terms.