New and Returning Student Orientation, 2024-2025

This is where new returning Culinary Arts students should begin. On this page, students and parents will find answers to many of their questions regarding the Syllabus, Course Information, Supply Lists, and the Contracts they will be asked to sign.

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16000Meals Served
425Student Chefs
8Courses of Study
250000Annual Scholarships

What We Learn

Our program focuses on six key topics of Culinary Arts study: Gastronomy, Baking & Pastry, Safety & Sanitation, STEM: Food Science and Culinary Math, Business: Accounting and Inventory, Sales: Marketing and Customer Service. Click on any link for more information.

What people are saying about Wekiva Culinary

The best advertisement for Wekiva Culinary is what our students, parents, and business partners have to say about us.

Faculty Members

We are lucky to have a devoted culinary education team that truly loves their students, is excited about the Culinary Arts, and is well-versed in the most recent food science discoveries.

Chef Christopher Bates Program Director and Lead Instructor

Teacher of the Year, 2021

Florida ProStart Educator of Excellence, 2023

National James H Maynard Award for Classroom Instruction, 2023

National Teacher of the Year, the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education, 2024

Chef Bates started his foodservice career at 14, working after school every day at Gooding’s Bakery, learning the basics of quantity production of fine pastries. He continued to work in foodservice outlets through high school and into his college years in Orlando, then again during graduate school in Texas. After deciding to radically change directions, he returned to Florida and enrolled in the Florida Culinary Institute (now the Lincoln Culinary Institute) in 1993.

Since then, Chef Bates has worked in more than 20 restaurants, resorts, and catering companies including:

  • Chef Christopher Events, Orlando
  • PF Chang’s China Bistro, Orlando
  • Gotham City Bar and Grill, Boca Raton
  • Legal Seafoods Restaurant, Boca Raton
  • Walt Disney Resorts, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Orlando
  • TGI Fridays, South Beach, Orlando, Boca Raton, Jupiter, & West Palm Beach
  • Top of the Tower, Boca Raton Resort and Spa, Boca Raton
  • Bistro Zenith, Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton
  • Pebbles, Manuel’s on the 28th, Harvey’s Bistro, Orlando

After a long career in foodservice, Chef Bates decided in 2010 to hang up his black and whites and start a second career teaching English. After only three years teaching, he made the move to the Career and Technical Education department, assuming control of the Culinary Program. Since then, he has shepherded Wekiva Culinary through tremendous growth, Magnet status, and many “firsts,” such as catering the Superintendent’s Luncheon, winning multiple grants, and forming relationships with business leaders and companies across Central Florida.

Chef Bates is proud to serve the students of Wekiva Culinary as Program Administrator and looks forward to the many exciting “firsts” yet to come.

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Our Featured Sponsors

Advanced Pastry

Culinary students are starting our first EVER Advanced Pastry and Chocolate class this year. More details coming soon!

Get in touch

We love visitors! Get in touch with Chef Bates and schedule a tour, a day assisting in the classroom, or a field trip to your place of business. Need a caterer in the Apopka, FL area? Reach out! There is a chance that our talented students will be able to cater your event.

407.297.4900 ext 6192628 christopher.bates@ocps.net 2501 N Hiawassee Rd Apopka FL 32703

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