Van Pullum, Jr.
Great-grandmother Beatrice Glover and Uncle Junior Glover inspired Van Pullum Jr. to become an outstanding culinary student and the 2009 winner of the President's Medal at Guilford Technical Community College.
“I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with them,” Pullum said. “I started cooking when I was about six, and they both taught me a lot,” he said.
The uncle and great-grandmother are deceased, but Pullum still credits them with his desire to become a professional chef. He promised his uncle he would go to school and follow his dreams. “It was the inspiration that I received from Uncle Junior that made it possible for me to attend GTCC,” he said. “I can't ever forget that.”
Even before he graduated from South Davidson High School, Pullum was known as an outstanding cook. He already had experience working in restaurants before entering GTCC to “formalize” his culinary education. As a student, he landed a job at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro where he still works.
Pullum has started a business, Secret Chef, with Greg Polland, another former GTCC student. “Ten percent of what we make will go to charity,” Pullum said.
The award-winning chef accomplished a great deal while a student. He
catered and cooked for stars at the ACC basketball tournament and the Wyndham PGA golf tournament. Pullum was the first student ever allowed to serve the first course at GTCC's Chef's Ball on March 1, 2009.
He also was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and represented GTCC in the Knowledge Bowl. He was president of the Hospitality Club and participated on the Student Government Association's Clubs Council.
Pullum said, “I learned a lot of techniques at GTCC. I picked up a lot of classical training from the professors, as most of them graduated from very prestigious school. They also have job experiences in a variety of fields. The curriculum really prepared us for the workforce.”
Yet, even after being taught by culinary experts, Pullum can't forget that his road to becoming an executive chef started in that country kitchen with Great-grandmother Glover and Uncle Junior.
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