The George County High School Culinary Department is thrilled about the upcoming opening of their new building. The highly anticipated building is on track to open their doors on Jan. 1, 2026.
The excitement is noticeable among the instructors Danielle Frey and Ashton Estis, who are eagerly waiting for the opening especially after all their hard work and consideration of what was put into this new building. The kitchen will feature commercial equipment that their students previously did not have access to, allowing for a better training experience.
“I am so excited. There is a lot that we will get to do and it’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Estis said. “It will allow for more hands-on teaching in the kitchen.”
Some new additional features to their kitchen include gas stoves, combination ovens, serving lines, and a demo area.
The building design will change how the program is taught. Frey noted that the main difference is that both Year I and II will be in there together which allows for a more collaborative environment. The new facility will have a bigger capacity than what they are used to, which will allow them to hold up to 30 people. It also gives them the opportunity to cater to a large scale and prepare them for life after high school.
The new facility gives relief to the culinary staff as it gets rid of old headaches from the previous kitchen.
“In the summertime it is too hot and in the winter it is too cold,” Frey said. “It was also so crowded so we will now have a lot more space.”
The instructors had a significant input into the design and layout of the new space.
“It was up to us because we knew how it needed to be, and it turned out even better,” Frey said.
The construction of the building was made possible primarily through state grants, with a big push from former state representative Doug McLeod, who pushed for the new facility and secured funding. There was also equipment donated by Ingalls Shipbuilding.
“I am truly excited, and our culinary students are going to have a big tour,” Frey said.
The new culinary building is set to have a big impact on the high school students when they step into a professional kitchen and prepare them for success.
