Students from Roanoke City Public Schools have received the opportunity to learn the ways of a chef through the inaugural Culinary Arts Boot Camp in partnership with Virginia Western's Al Pollard Culinary Arts Program, Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, & Travel Association, and PARK Roanoke. The boot camp is designed as a pathway to welcome students to the extensive job opportunities in the hospitality industry. It is also an expansion of RCPS' Staying Safe by Staying Connected programming, which provides students with meaningful and productive ways to stay connected and engaged throughout the school year and in the summer.