When Anthony Kimball first stepped into the Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC) Culinary Arts kitchen three years ago, his instructors noticed something immediately: he was "locked in." Since then, the Ellsworth High School senior hasn’t just participated in the program; he has helped lead it. His work ethic and consistent dedication over the years are just two of the things that earned him the HCTC Student of the Year honor, one that will be celebrated this May at the Maine Association for Career and Technical Education (MACTE) 2026 Student of the Year Banquet at Eastern Maine Community College.
Anthony’s journey at HCTC serves as a masterclass in commitment. During his first year, he volunteered to be the student representative on the Culinary Arts Advisory committee, while simultaneously stepping in to help serve the food and to stay and clean up. That early initiative did not go unnoticed, as he earned the Rotary Student Recognition as a sophomore and began proving his technical mettle in the MRE exhibition competition at SkillsUSA - competing on the Cross Center floor with six other teams.
Anthony remained in his advisor role through his senior year, and volunteered for every program event after hours. He has also been a mainstay volunteer at our Middle School camps. As he moved into his second and third years, Anthony’s locked in approach in the kitchen and classroom continued. He played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for his team at the ProStart Culinary Maine State competition in his second year, and extended his reach far beyond the kitchen.
While maintaining a full course load at Ellsworth High School, Anthony aced our optional college credit courses offered with the Culinary Arts program. He was also inducted into our National Technical Honor Society chapter. But he didn’t stop there – as a senior, added two more college courses as independent study (Accounting through one of the Community Colleges and Nutrition though UMA), concurrent with a full course load at EHS and HCTC, including college English!
Also this year, Anthony requested an internship placement, taking him out of the building during the first half of the year working at 86This! in Downtown Ellsworth – and in typical Anthony fashion, he received rave reviews and a summer job from his supervisors. This spring, he represented HCTC in the Restaurant Service competition at SkillsUSA and earned a bronze medal in the process.
Beyond the accolades and his service on the HCTC building committee, it is Anthony’s work ethic that sets him apart. His instructors frequently note that he is the last person to leave every day, embodying a rare sense of responsibility and a laser-like focus on his professional future. Whether leading the dining room during restaurant service or mentoring younger students, Anthony’s devotion to the culinary vocation is evident in everything he does.
As the school year winds down, Anthony is preparing to represent HCTC once more in the Restaurant Service competition at the SkillsUSA State finals. Looking ahead to the fall, he will be taking his talents to the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Long Island, New York to continue his pursuit of a culinary career! The HCTC community is incredibly proud of Anthony’s achievements and looks forward to seeing his continued success as he embarks further on his journey.