Columnist Muriel Stevens: Artistic students shine at Inner City Games awards breakfast

Tuesday, May 12, 1998 | 10:19 a.m.

The Official All Star Cafe was a fitting setting for the recent awards breakfast for the Inner City Games. It could have been dubbed a breakfast of champions, not only for the sports stars who own the cafe, but for the youngsters who were being recognized for their writing and artistic talent.

The Inner City Games celebrate the arts as well as sports. Students from select Las Vegas schools are invited to submit artwork, poetry, an essay or short story based on a specific topic. The theme for the competition was Inner City Values -- Respect, Honesty, Helpfulness, Responsibility, Kindness, Self-Discipline, Courage and Trustworthiness. The top three winners in the Elementary, Middle and High School divisions received scholarship awards, sponsored by Citibank, ranging from $100 to $1,250. More than 2,500 local students participated in the 1998 contest during February and March.

As I wandered the exhibit area reading the poems and essays and looking at the art, the realization of what these youngsters live with on a daily basis struck home. Most of us have never been exposed to the events that every day affect the lives of inner city kids. Their ability to understand and articulate what they experience, and the decisions they must make to survive were both moving and shocking. First-place essay winner Maria Ayala says it all in her remarkable piece, "A Courage to Live." It begins: "Have you ever wondered how much courage a teenager has to (have) everyday? I'll bet you think we don't have enough real courage to last us through a day. Well, I would like you to think again!!! Hopefully today I can take you through a day in the life of a teenager -- Me. Starting from when I wake up until I go to sleep."

She ends the remarkable accounting, "It takes a lot of hard work and sometimes it's scary to have courage. Doing things that are bad for you and others is easy because your homies (friends) might think you're a better homie. But having courage to do what's right and good for you, makes you feel and like yourself more. When you like yourself, you'll have a happy life, and courage is the main thing kids need to be truly happy."

Maria Ayala is 13-years old.

Reading the moving essay was a reminder of the importance of the Inner City Games program. Any child between the ages of 7 and 17 living in the Greater Las Vegas area can participate. "The events are offered to youngsters most in need of positive activities who may not traditionally have a chance to participate," the organization says. More than 13,000 local children will participate this year.

To learn how to contribute time or money to the Inner City Games program, call 382-5447.

From CPA to chef

It takes guts to change career horses mid-stream, but that's exactly what John Geislinger did when he became a chef after an earlier career as a CPA. With a bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting and mathematics, Geislinger, now 42, never anticipated that fate and his own desire to seek new career goals would have him returning to an earlier interest, cooking.

When the company he worked for eliminated the audit department where he worked, he admitted to himself that he was not happy as an accountant. After much soul-searching -- he even considered a change to a gaming career -- he decided on a culinary career. At the tender age of 12, Geislinger worked in a restaurant; he continued to work in the restaurant business until age 24, when he graduated from college. Sais Geislinger, "I cooked my way through college."

An aversion to snow found him choosing the warmer climate of Las Vegas over Reno, so he enrolled in the Culinary Arts School at the Community College of Southern Nevada. When Geislinger graduates he will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and will be certified by the American Culinary Federation at the basic level -- certified cook. As a member of the college's five-person Hot Food Team, he coordinates and directs the team's activities. In February, the team won the American Culinary Federation's Western regional competition, earning it a gold medal.

The award-winning menu was featured at the college's recent Star-Struck '98 celestial-themed benefit, and brought the team more rave reviews.

Geislinger's business skills aren't being wasted. Chef-instructor Jill Mora said, "John keeps me totally and completely organized. I couldn't get along without him. He's invaluable." Says Geislinger, "having business degrees gives me a leg up on a lot of the graduates who are going out into the field as cooks. With an accounting degree, I consider myself better prepared all around."

As a member of the CCSN's Culinary Club, Les Amis de Savarin, Geislinger gets to travel across the country. Catering jobs help the club pay for its travel expenses. The enthusiastic student says that because of the experience he has gained working with the catering, he could work with any organization in town.

Other would-be chefs should know that CCSN has state-of-the-art kitchens and a 15-1 student-teacher ratio.

So how does the budding chef feel about his new career? "Every day when I wake up, he says, "I know that I get to go to work and enjoy myself."

Coming events

There is no end to the number of fund-raisers designed to assist local organizations.

*Tonight, at the Las Vegas Art Museum in the Sahara West Library, funds raised from a live art auction and dinner will benefit the museum. Included among the works of art to be auctioned are those inspired by National Holocaust Education Month.

*The National Italian American Foundation will honor business mogul Anthony Marnell II, Saturday at the MGM Grand. Proceeds from the $150 event will benefit NAIF's Scholarship and Education Program.

*Nathan Adelson Hospice will be the beneficiary of funds raised from a fashion show and luncheon at the Desert Inn, May 20. Saks Fifth Avenue will present the Halston Fall 1998 Collection. For tickets ($100), call the hospice at 733-0430.

*Chef for Kids dinner and auction takes place at the Desert Inn May 22. Tickets, $125, include a poolside reception, silent and live auctions and interaction with the chefs. For tickets and reservations, call 258-8011.