Jaime Ioppolo is a decisive young woman. The Huntington High School senior knows exactly where her interests lie and she believes she has found the perfect place at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park to begin moving toward accomplishing her goals, one by one.
“I chose the Culinary Institute of America because I want to be a restaurant owner and here I will learn everything I need from cooking to finance to running the restaurants on campus,” Ms. Ioppolo said. “I applied to the CIA at the last minute and had so much help and support from the admissions counselors that I didn’t receive anywhere else.”
Huntington High School senior Jaime Ioppolo.
The Culinary Institute’s facilities and location are impressive by any measure. “The campus is beautiful overlooking the Hudson River and everything about it is great, especially the food,” Ms. Ioppolo said. “This school supplies me with everything I need and more. I liked it better than every other school I visited.”
Ms. Ioppolo earlier considered the University of Tampa, Coastal Carolina University, LIU Post and several others until she changed her initial career choice. “The CIA was the first culinary school I looked into and I didn’t have to look any further after that,” she said. “Just speaking with the admissions people on the phone made me fall in love with the school from them telling me all I needed to know and them listening and supporting all of my plans.”
The teenager is excited to begin college. She plans to spend some of the time taking classes in Italy through CIA’s study abroad program.
A four year Blue Devil volleyball player, Ms. Ioppolo has also performed with the high school choir since her freshman year. “I have so many great memories because of these two activities and will really miss them,” she said. “Choir helped me a lot through high school and during a stressful day, singing with my classmates was able to get me through the rest of it. I will really miss being a part of the Huntington High School choir.”
The volleyball and choir programs will always remain near and dear to Ms. Ioppolo’s heart, regardless of how far she travels from Huntington. “Volleyball has brought me so many great many great memories and friends,” she said. “Chorus was also such a great experience through concerts and solos.”
Ms. Ioppolo’s senior year academic schedule has included Advanced Placement Psychology (she originally planned for a career as a psychologist), Financial Algebra, Forensics (which she especially has loved), Bible Literature, Humanities, Economics, Participation in Government and Chamber Choir.
“I already have my restaurant all planned,” Ms. Ioppolo said. “I have the name, menu, hours and everything. During college I plan to save my money so I can open it straight out of college while doing everything I can to work toward it while I’m in college, including looking for a location, maybe finding a chef when I study in Italy, etc.”
As her time at the high school draws to a close, Ms. Ioppolo is looking back with fond memories forged over the past four years.
“I met so many great people and teachers at Huntington High School,” Ms. Ioppolo said. “It’s brought me so many great memories and experiences that I will truly miss in college.”
