Class of 2022: Evan Hawkins from NYS School for the Deaf to pursue culinary dreams
The Class of 2022 will say farewell to a high school career that included nearly two years under the cloud of a global pandemic. While COVID-19 may have marred some of their high school experience, this class has grit and they have made it to the finish line. As members of the graduating class prepare to move on to the next chapter in their lives, the Observer-Dispatch sat down with several seniors across the Mohawk Valley. They offered advice for their fellow students, shared their college and career goals and more. Congratulations to the Class of 2022.
At 19, Evan Hawkins has already faced his share of challenges.
He was born deaf in China in 2003 and adopted by a Canastota family in 2010. His childhood years involved adapting to a new environment and family, learning English as well as American Sign Language.
But an interest sparked in his family's kitchen when he was 10 has fueled a determination to overcome adversity and charge forward into a culinary career.
Hawkins is preparing to graduate from the New York State School for the Deaf in Rome and will start his Culinary Arts Certificate at Monroe Community College in Rochester in August.
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From home kitchen to culinary school
Hawkins' mother, Cheri Hawkins, said it was challenging to communicate with her son when he was first adopted because he had no language skills, but she started teaching him sign language.
Evan Hawkins first showed his interest in cooking when he was 10, helping out in the kitchen.
But his love for cooking grew while attending the New York State School for the Deaf, which offers elementary education, middle and high school education and teaches American Sign Language to deaf students.
Some students like Hawkins also stay at the dorms Monday through Friday and go home for the weekend, which he enjoys because he can socialize with his peers and cook with the staff.
Hawkins also loves playing soccer, but culinary arts eventually stood out as his career goal. Two years ago, he started his Career and Technical Education Culinary Arts program at Madison-Oneida BOCES, where he's been learning different techniques and gaining practical experience.
Through the program, Hawkins also completed an internship at Hannaford Supermarkets in Rome to gain experience.
'He's had a lot of adversities to overcome'
"It's difficult to communicate, a lot of them (students) don't know sign," said Hawkins through interpreter Rose Bruno. He is the only student who is deaf in the program and works with Bruno, who helps him during classes.
Overall, Bruno and Hawkins spend three hours together every day at BOCES and at the NYSSD, which has allowed Bruno to learn a lot from him.
"He always continues to work hard and he always wants to figure things out and he is always looking to improve his English," she said. "But he always remembers where he's from."
Hawkins is in touch with his Chinese heritage, and is often watching videos of different cooking techniques and recipes, especially Chinese street food. Hawkins, whose favorite dish to cook is chicken riggies, says he hopes to visit China someday.
"He's efficient, he's a clean-as-you-go kind of guy, he's very organized, he reads the recipe and understands what he's doing, he's a pleasure to have in class," said Daniel Mordaunt, instructor of the Culinary Arts program at BOCES. "He'll be fine in the industry, he’s a natural."
The people at NYSSD have become "like a second family" to him, Bruno says. As he heads off to Monroe Community College, Hawkins hopes to find a larger deaf community, as he sometimes feels alienated.
"He is a very determined young man, he knows what he wants and what he likes and he's not afraid to tell you," Cheri Hawkins said. "But you know, I think his past struggles have made him a really strong young man, he's had a lot of adversities to overcome."
Evan Hawkins said his goal is to become a chef and work at a restaurant, which he plans to do after receiving his associate degree.
"I've enjoyed my time at NYSSD with the staff, the students, the teachers, all the support," Hawkins said. "Now my future is to go to college and I hope I can continue to socialize and meet more deaf people and continue cooking."
Maria M. Silva covers food, drink and culture in the Mohawk Valley for the Observer-Dispatch. Email her at mariamsilva@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: NYS School for the Deaf Class of 2022: Senior to pursue life as a chef
