BY RACHEL WINDLER
600 eggs. 400 pancakes. 300 people. When you think of the rodeo, these aren't the first things that come to mind. But for the seven culinary students that spent their day in the Horse Show Hospitality Room, nothing could be more important.
Seniors Xavier Lee, Monica Camera, Keyara Price, David Saiz, Oni Sanders, Denice Vargas and junior Destiny Gomez took four-hour shifts at a time last Wednesday, Feb. 18, serving the various horse show competitors breakfast. Done on a volunteer basis, these students couldn't have thought of a better way to help out an organization dedicated to helping Texas youth further their education.
What many don't know about the annual rodeo in San Antonio is that all money made goes directly back to the kids right here in Texas via scholarships, internships, and show premiums. According to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, last year the total donation was $11.8 million, and through the years, the total donations come up to $147.9 million.
For the past 6 years, culinary students from Wagner have supported this cause by providing this free breakfast to the competitors during their competition. Culinary teachers Rosie Laster and Danice Boyette were both very excited about their contributions to the rodeo and what proceeds from it.
"The kids are always very excited to do this every year. They love it!" Boyette beamed. "They spent Tuesday preparing the pancake batter and eggs to be cooked the next day. They were all very focused on their tasks. They wanted to be ready."
The volunteers may not have made a dime in their toils over stoves and behind smiles and courtesy, but they are definitely sound in the knowledge that they did their part in furthering a noble cause to ensure the education of their own peers and future rodeo participants.