Students
Students
Meet Three New Wildcats Joining JWU Charlotte This Fall
Classes are just weeks away, and the excitement is building on Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte Campus. As the newest Wildcats get ready to start their college journey, we’re introducing members of the incoming class. Each brings unique talents, goals and experiences — and all are eager to dive into life at JWU Charlotte.
From Campus Club Leader to Aspiring Global Event Planner
Sabina Darjee, a Hospitality Management major and longtime Charlotte resident, began her college journey at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) with no plans to transfer. But as she dove deeper into hospitality, she realized she wanted to take her education further.
One of her favorite parts of transferring to JWU? How seamlessly her credits carried over. “They found a way for me not to repeat the classes I had already taken, so I could take classes I’m truly interested in,” Darjee said. “I want to go into international event planning, rather than just events in the United States, and I’m looking to take classes focused on that.”
Her interest in events began at CPCC, where she joined the campus activities club and worked her way up to president. She planned student gatherings and festivals — experiences that cemented her love for bringing people together. She also earned her N.C. Scholars of Global Distinction honor, collaborating with classmates from around the world to deepen intercultural understanding.
Darjee’s hands-on experience includes an internship with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, where she worked at both the convention center and Visit Charlotte. She loves exploring local restaurants and venues, most recently Optimist Hall, and is excited for the larger, more active campus life at JWU. Her ultimate goal? “Plan events in many different parts of the world, learn about their cultures, and just travel.”
Culinary Creativity Meets Ambition
Logan Vidal, a Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management major, first connected with JWU through the Future Food Scholarship Program. After months of testing and refining, he presented a South Florida–inspired dish: pan-seared red snapper with mango pineapple relish, yucca puree, and a fish stock-based beurre blanc. His focus on reducing food waste impressed the judges and earned him a $5,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four years.
“The scholarship program was life-changing,” Vidal said. “It confirmed that this is what I want to do, and JWU made me feel valued and welcomed.”
Vidal only started cooking a year ago, inspired by avant-garde chefs like Heston Blumenthal and Massimo Bottura. Since then, he’s gained professional kitchen experience at a fine dining Italian restaurant and completed a six-week internship at Serendipity’s new Times Square location in New York, where he refined his knife skills and mastered everything from Pico de Gallo to julienned onions.
This fall, Vidal is eager for his culinary labs, bartending classes and the opportunity to study abroad — Paris is at the top of his list. His dream is to own a hotel with a restaurant and create jobs for others. “I get called too ambitious most of the time,” he said. “But you work hard and make it happen.”
From the Golf Course to the Baking Lab
Ashley Hart, a Baking & Pastry Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management major from Lexington, N.C., discovered JWU through a TikTok post about top culinary schools. An hour from her hometown, the Charlotte Campus felt like a perfect fit — and her choice of major carries personal meaning.
“My dad wasn’t able to go to culinary school, and it was his dream,” Hart said. “Now I’m here to accomplish what we both wanted to do.”
Hart’s love for baking began when she started recreating her father’s favorite recipes. She even prepared to launch a custom cake business during her senior year of high school before plans changed. Outside the kitchen, she’s a lifelong athlete who fell in love with golf her senior year, putting in hours of practice to become competitive. At JWU, she’s looking forward to baking labs, competing with the women’s golf team and experiencing city life for the first time.
Her long-term goal is to open a bar in a rural area that offers a sense of nightlife and connection. “I want to create a place where I can bring people together to have fun and enjoy,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Darjee, Vidal and Hart each represent the drive, creativity and openness to opportunity that make JWU Charlotte unique. Whether they’re planning cultural festivals, designing dishes that push culinary boundaries or imagining new ways to bring people together, they’re joining a campus ready to welcome and support them.
To our incoming students: your first semester is almost here. Say hello to your classmates, get involved and explore everything Charlotte — and JWU — have to offer. Your next chapter starts now.
