Kendall College Welcomes Chef Rick Bayless as 2016 Commencement Speaker

CHICAGO, June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kendall College is proud to welcome Chef Rick Bayless to its 2016 commencement ceremony, which will be held Saturday, June 25, 2016 at the Chicago Symphony Center at 10:00am. During the ceremony, Kendall College will honor students from across the globe who have earned associate and bachelor's degrees from the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts, School of Hospitality Management, International School of Business and School of Early Childhood Education. Bayless, an award winning chef, author and educator will address graduates with personal stories and words of wisdom in celebration of their academic accomplishments.

"We are honored to welcome Chef Bayless as our 2016 commencement speaker," said Kim Shambrook, interim president of Kendall College. "Throughout his life and career, Chef Bayless has been an agent of change and an inspiration. His passion for food and diverse cultures, his success in building remarkable businesses and his steadfast commitment to social responsibility and continuous education makes him a perfect role model for our Kendall students and graduates as they prepare to take the next step in their careers."

As chef and proprietor, Bayless oversees seven restaurants, including Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and the newly opened Leña Brava in Chicago, and the Frontera Farmer Foundation, which has supported Midwestern farms since 2003 by awarding nearly 200 grants and nearly two million dollars to date for capital improvements. He was awarded Humanitarian of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals for his many philanthropic endeavors in 2007, the same year he launched the Frontera Scholarship. The full-tuition scholarship is awarded annually to Mexican-American Chicago Public School student to attend Kendall College to study culinary arts. 

Bayless has won seven James Beard Foundation Awards, authored nine cookbooks and been nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Culinary Host for his highly-rated Public Television Series: Mexico—One Plate at a Time. Last month, he was named the recipient of the Julia Child Award.  

"It's truly an honor to stand before Kendall's eager group of graduates," said Chef Bayless. "I hope, in some small way, to contribute to their future success."

For more information about Kendall College and its degree programs, visit www.kendall.edu.

About Kendall College:
Kendall College, founded in 1934 and located in Chicago, offers undergraduate degrees in culinary arts, hospitality management, business and early childhood education to a diverse and passionate community of more than 2,100 students each year. The curriculum combines strong academics with practical experience and international educational opportunities to give students in business, hospitality and culinary arts programs the skills and expertise to be leaders in their professions. Kendall College was ranked the No. 1 program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality management and culinary arts in a survey of hiring managers at Chicago's leading hotels and Michelin Guide restaurants (TNS Global - 2013 Survey). Kendall College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. For more information, visit www.Kendall.edu.

Kendall is part of the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 80 campus-based and online universities in 28 countries. For more information, visit www.laureate.net.

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SOURCE Kendall College

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