Students in Butler Tech’s Family and Consumer Science programs at Talawanda High School put their classroom skills into action to honor local veterans through a special Veterans Day breakfast and recognition ceremony.
Students in Contemporary Cuisine and Baking and Pastry Arts classes, alongside FCCLA members, helped plan and organize the annual event, taking responsibility for everything from menu planning and food preparation to guest hospitality and event coordination.
Their efforts went well beyond preparing and serving breakfast. Students created thank-you cards, designed menus and programs, made boutonnieres, selected gifts and presented quilts to veterans. They also helped coordinate a recognition ceremony that brought together students from across the Talawanda School District.
The celebration included musical performances, readings from younger students and opportunities for veterans to share their experiences. Elementary students participated in a coloring contest, while middle school and high school students contributed essays, with selected students recognized during the ceremony.
Approximately 150 students were directly involved in organizing and supporting the breakfast and assembly, which was attended by the entire high school.
For the Butler Tech students involved, the experience provided an opportunity to practice essential career-tech skills, including food preparation, safe food handling, customer service, event setup and hospitality. Just as importantly, it challenged them to take ownership of an event with a purpose beyond the classroom.
The celebration reflected the spirit of Butler Tech’s Pay It Forward initiative, demonstrating how students can use their skills, talents and leadership to serve others. By honoring local veterans and bringing generations together, these students showed that career-tech prepares them not only for future careers, but also to make a meaningful difference in their communities today.
