Coral Glades Open House Showcases Culinary Arts, Student Clubs and Opportunities

by David Volz August 19, 2026

by David Volz August 19, 2026 2 minutes read

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Lucas Konash, McKinley Bolar, Alan Lazar, and David Rodriguez of culinary arts. {Photos by David Volz}

Alan Lazar, who teaches food and nutrition at Coral Glades High School, wants to prepare young people for careers in restaurants and hotels or to enjoy preparing great meals.

“I love food. People have to eat, and I want my students to be able to pursue careers as chefs and to learn about proper food preparation and safety,” said Lazar. He is president of the Broward County American Culinary Federation. He and members of the Coral Glades Culinary Arts Club participated in an open house event at the school on August 18.

In his second year at Coral Glades, Lazar is preparing second-year culinary arts students for the ServSafe exam, which demonstrates they are qualified to work in a restaurant kitchen. Those who stay in the program for four years and attend local technical schools prepare for careers in fine-dining restaurants, hotels, or as nutritionists. Lazar said he hopes the more advanced students can participate in ProStart competitions. The club is proud of the second-place award it won last year in a county-wide gingerbread house competition.

“I love cooking, and I want to show young people how fun it is to cook,” said Lucas Konash, president of the Culinary Arts Club.

Most of the Coral Glades clubs, including academic, service, and hobby-oriented organizations, participated in the open house.

Jacqueline Cruz and Isabella Digiovanna with the National Honor Society.

Isabella Digiovanna, president of the National Honor Society, encouraged students with good grades and a desire to help others to join. “We tutor students who need academic help, and we will be visiting retirement homes and doing other service projects,” she said.

Amrita Mathura, president of the Model United Nations, said members participate in competitions with other schools, where they address major current or historical issues and debate solutions. “Our members develop public speaking skills and build self-confidence,” she said.

The Rotary Club of Coral Springs is sponsoring the Coral Glades Interact Club. Steve Beauchamp, the teacher who advises the club, said he hopes Interact’s membership will continue to grow and that members will work on various service projects this year.

Candice Adams and Sal Golfo of Rotary Club of Coral Springs.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.