Festival of Flavors fundraiser starts soon
When Bigfork’s Ruth Rickenbacher, mother of two boys, decided to pursue a college degree, she knew the cost of college would create a financial challenge for her family.
Even still, she wanted to show her children that through hard work and perseverance, she could achieve her educational and professional goals. She applied for and received a scholarship through the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, which she says lifted a huge burden off her shoulders.
“When I received the envelope in the mail, I thought it was another bill,” Rickenbacher said. “When I discovered it was a scholarship, I actually cried tears of joy for the first time in my life.”
Rickenbacher is currently pursuing an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in communications at FVCC and plans to transfer to The University of Montana to complete a bachelor’s degree in the field. Without scholarship assistance, this would have been a much more challenging pursuit for her.
Already one of the most affordable colleges in the state, FVCC has a wide range of scholarships, grants, and diverse financial aid packages available to help students cover college expenses. During the 2010-11 academic year, 74 percent of FVCC students who sought degrees or certificates received some type of financial assistance.
The FVCC Foundation, in partnership with event sponsor Fun Beverage Inc., will host its fifth annual Festival of Flavors from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6. The gala will feature 14 events showcasing the talents of eight of Northwest Montana’s finest chefs and students and faculty of The Culinary Institute of Montana at FVCC.
Last year, the event raised approximately $60,000 for student scholarships and programs at FVCC, a record for an FVCC Foundation fundraising event.
This year, the foundation hopes to top their record and invites the community to support the cause.
Local farmers, FVCC artisans, local food vendors, brewers and winemakers will kick off the Festival on Sept. 27 on the FVCC campus. Tickets to the kick-off event are $30 per person and include tastings from various local food vendors including Cuisine Machine, Sweet Peaks Ice Cream, Wings on the Fly, Eagle’s Nest Café, Maria’s Big Green Roaster, Amazing Crepes, Flathead Burger, Flathead Lake Brewery, Tamarack Brewery, Mission Mountain Winery, Glacier Sun Winery, Flathead Winery and more.
The kick-off event also will feature a Farmer’s Market. Patrons will have the opportunity to purchase fresh produce from the FVCC Campus Garden, and artwork from FVCC Art Club students and college faculty and staff will be available for purchase.
In celebration of the event’s fifth year, the college will offer a new Festival Country Store offering handcrafted Festival of Flavors collector’s items by local artists and FVCC students and faculty.
New this year, American Culinary Federation Certified Culinary Educator and FVCC Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Hillary Ginepra will prepare an International Winemaker Dinner Oct. 3 at Jeff Gilman’s Woodshop in Whitefish. Other new dinners will include Mediterranean Winemaker Dinner with Chef Engjell Vrapi at When in Rome on Oct. 2.
Guest chef dinners in private homes and restaurants are also available featuring Chef Kathleen Moon from the Laughing Horse Lodge in Swan Lake, Chef Josh Auerhammer from the Culinary Design Studio, Chef Marc Guizol from La Provence Restaurant, and others from around the valley.
The Festival will culminate with its Grand Wine Tasting event on Oct. 6 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell. Over 200 wines will be available for patrons to sample.
Guests will enjoy a variety of culinary delights from local restaurants and caterers, as well as cuisine prepared and served by students of the college’s Culinary Institute of Montana.
Patrons must be at least 21 years of age or must be accompanied by an adult. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets and to obtain a complete list of Festival of Flavors events and featured chefs, visit www.fvcc.edu/festival.html, or call the FVCC Foundation Office at 756-3632.