Commencement
Celebrating the Future of the Food, Beverage and Hospitality Industries
Congratulations, Graduates!
To all of our 2023-2024 graduates, CONGRATULATIONS — you did it! In New York, we welcomed Chefs and ICE alumnae Mashama Bailey (Chef & Co-Founder of The Grey, Savannah, Georgia) and Gabrielle “Gabi” Chappel (recent winner of Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef”) as our guest speakers at the Borough of Manhattan Community College's Tribeca Performing Arts Center.
Chef Evan Funke (Chef & Owner of Felix, Funke and Mother Wolf, Los Angeles, and Tre Dita, Chicago) and ICE alumna Megan Fogarty bestowed words of wisdom to our Los Angeles graduates at Beckman Auditorium at Caltech.
We can't wait to see where your Culinary Voice™ takes you.
It was an honor to host Chef Marcus Samuelsson as our Keynote Speaker, and Chef Orlando Soto (Pastry & Baking Arts, '14) as our Alumni Speaker at our 2023 Commencement ceremony in New York. Watch our ceremony below.
It was an honor to host Chef Stephanie Izard as our Keynote Speaker, and Chef Jessica Alferos (Culinary Arts, '19) as our Alumni Speaker at our 2023 Commencement ceremony in Los Angeles. Watch our ceremony below.
New York Campus
It was an honor to host Jacques Pépin, Shenarri Freeman (Plant-Based Culinary Arts, '21) and Mary Attea (Culinary Arts, '11), as speakers at our 2022 Commencement ceremony in Pasadena. Watch our ceremony below.
Los Angeles Campus
It was an honor to host Antonia Lofaso and Michael Kerner (Culinary Arts, '21) as speakers at our 2022 Commencement ceremony in Pasadena. Watch our ceremony below.
It was an honor to recognize our 2019-2021 graduates on Saturday, June 12, with our first virtual commencement ceremony via StageClip! Students submitted photos for their moments of recognition, and ICE alumni Gail Simmons (Culinary, '99), Matt Hyland (Culinary, ‘05), and Shenarri Freeman (Health-Supportive, ’21) inspired graduates about the future of the restaurant industry and their careers to come
New York Campus Ceremony
You can watch the complete ceremony on YouTube below.
Los Angeles Campus Ceremony
You can watch the complete ceremony on YouTube below.
New York Campus
Our annual graduation ceremony featured keynote speaker Dan Barber, alumna speaker Adrienne Cheatham and the traditional toque toss! Read the full recap and watch the Facebook video here!
Graduates can download photos here
Los Angeles Campus
The first commencement ceremony for Los Angeles campus graduates was a huge success! Thanks to Wolfgang Puck for speaking!
2018-2019 graduates can download photos with Chef Wolfgang here and read a recap of the ceremony here.
New York Campus
On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, ICE hosted a remarkable commencement ceremony at NYU's Skirball Center, off of Manhattan's beautiful Washington Square Park. Esther Choi (Culinary ’11), chef-owner of mokbar, delivered an inspiring alumna speech, and one of America's most prestigious restaurateurs — founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group — Danny Meyer honored students with a keynote message.
The atmosphere was buzzing with eager graduates as toques took over the theatre and all fell silent for our esteemed guests' words of wisdom. The event culminated with ICE faculty members proudly presenting diplomas for Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Restaurant & Culinary Management, and Hospitality & Hotel Management, and recognizing this year's award winners with medals. Of course, many photos followed, some highlights from which are showcased below.
New York Campus
On Tuesday, May 9, 2017 — for the very first time — ICE held a momentous commencement ceremony at NYU's Skirball Center to celebrate the graduation of ICE career students who completed their programs in the first half of 2017. ICE President Rick Smilow welcomed 600 proud parents, family and friends to share in the accomplishments of the ICE graduates in attendance. Rick noted the diversity of the students, who represented ICE’s career programs — Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, and Restaurant & Culinary Management — as well as diverse ages, nationalities, educational backgrounds, career aspirations and more.
After months of dedicated work and challenging themselves on a daily basis, the mood of the graduates was nothing less than ecstatic — the excitement in Skirball Center was palpable. Still, the room quieted to a hush as guests listened to a keynote address from acclaimed Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern. The crowd also had the chance to soak in reflections from alumnus Jonathan Defren (Culinary ‘08/Management ‘08/Hospitality ’11), who holds the royal trifecta of diplomas — Culinary Arts, Restaurant & Culinary Management and Hospitality & Hotel Management, and has paved a dynamic career path in the hospitality industry.