Student Spotlight: Levi Hollers, Culinary Arts

Traveling the world and learning about different cultures and cuisines is one of UAA culinary arts major, Levi Hollers, passions. This adventurer has journeyed to all corners of the world from Australia, scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, to sky diving in Cannes. He has toured England, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary and Spain and has his eyes set on his next adventure-a trip to east Africa.

"I want to go to Tanzania and climb two mountains-Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru," he said.

It's the serenity of climbing, after making it to the top Levi says, that makes it worth fighting for. "It's peaceful and it reminds me that I can accomplish anything."

It was his love for travel that led him to seek a career in the culinary field. Venturing out in different countries and trying new food made Levi develop a strong interest in different cuisines. "I fell in love with food. There are so many different types of food choices in the world. For example in London, I sampled traditional English cuisine, Indian curries, and even sushi and sashimi," he said. After a period of unsatisfying jobs, it was his brother that questioned Levi's goals in life and pushed him toward getting a degree in something he wanted to do and would be happy with. "I told him 'I want to become a chef,' and my brother said 'Then do it.'"

Levi didn't come from a background that would have thrust him in the culinary arts field.  He was raised in Soldotna and joined the army right out of high school where he held jobs as an armed messenger driver, aircraft fueler and a corrections officer. "I felt that these jobs did not feed my positive and artistic nature and I desperately needed a change of scenery."

But right now, Levi is thriving in the culinary department working with some of the top chefs in Alaska and has been offered two jobs in the past month, as he approaches graduation. He'll finish with his associate's degree, and then move on to complete his bachelor's in hospitality and restaurant management.

Levi says the culinary department has changed his life. "I'm marketable now. Coming from a military background, I thought I was only good at one thing, but now I'm getting calls and getting referred by other people. That's what is great about UAA, you can really network with people here at the University and make great connections."

Although he admits he's a hard worker and extremely determined, he credits the culinary department for his success. "The culinary program is amazing. Naomi Everett, UAA's head chef, has really molded me into becoming a good chef."

Some might wonder what types of classes culinary students take in order to get their degree. Levi has learned about sanitation, food costing and also got certified by the state in Beverage Management where he was licensed to serve alcohol. Then he gradually moved into classes the kitchen. But once next semester begins, he will start to take more management classes to learn how to own and operate his own restaurant or business, which one day, Levi hopes to do. "I want to open my own catering business. Food provides happiness for people, and I want to provide that for them."

Levi's current schedule is a tight one. He works two jobs and is a full-time student. He's a caterer at Kincaid Grill and a laboratory assistant at UAA where he preps food for incoming classes and works with students to learn and hone new skills.

He was recently awarded the Culinary Arts Scholarship, which he says has helped him stay focused on his studies. "Receiving this scholarship has made all the difference in the world, not only financially. Just the fact that others believe in the direction that I'm heading is incredible. I would like to one day give to students what has generously been given to me."

Once the topic of food is brought up, Levi's face brightens with enthusiasm and his love for the art of making cuisine shines through. "Food is universal. It brings people together. As a future chef, it's really fulfilling to watch people enjoying your food. There's nothing better than that."