Raheel Bsharat, a 2024 Maize High School graduate, started cooking when she was 10 or 11 years old. She took culinary classes in high school and now plans to attend Wichita State University in the fall.

“I started getting a lot of compliments on my food and things I would make in class,” Raheel said. “And that’s when I realized that I am actually good at it. And that’s where my creativity shines. You can totally be creative with food.”

She plans to pursue a degree in WSU’s hospitality program.

Raheel’s parents are from Jordan and Palestine. When Raheel and her three siblings were little, her parents worked a lot to support their family.

“I took on little tasks like cooking,” Raheel said.

In the future, she’s interested in opening a restaurant and in hotel management. She said she would also like to open her own resort one day, maybe in Tennessee.

In high school, Raheel took a culinary essentials class, a baking class, culinary arts, and culinary applications. She completed the restaurant and event management pathway at Maize Career Academy and often helped cook for events at MCA, including the Maize Education Foundation’s Spring Breakfast.

"Raheel is the gentle kind of joyful," said Cara Poole, who teaches culinary arts, baking and pastry at Maize Career Academy. "She has a positive attitude and one of learning. She is working in the industry and wants to eventually open her own restaurant. She works so hard and asks all of the great questions a student can."

Raheel participated in management for ProStart, which is a nationwide competition for culinary students. Raheel placed second in the state, where she created a restaurant concept around macaroni and cheese dishes.

“Raheel has taken full advantage of everything MCA has to offer,” said Dr. Lindsay King, Director of College and Career Readiness for Maize USD 266. “She has grown and developed her skills on culinary and restaurant management through courses, running pop-ups, internships, and competing in ProStart. Raheel also enjoyed teaching younger elementary students skills in the kitchen when they visited MCA, inspiring future culinary students." 

Now, Raheel likes making soup and says it’s her specialty, especially chicken vegetable soup.  

“It’s so simple and so good,” she said. “And it’s easy. I love it. Comfort food for sure.”

She also likes making sushi bakes.

“I finally decided to try something new besides my comfort recipes,” Raheel said. “I want to delve into making more.”

Raheel also works at Crumbl Cookies, where she is a shift lead. In her spare time, her hobbies include writing, reading, and organizing her book club.

Note: Maize USD 266 is highlighting some of its Class of 2024, which included 567 graduates from Maize High School and Maize South High School. Congratulations to all of our graduates!

Check out all of the stories in the series

• Grad Easton Roth, who has devoted much time at WSU Tech’s welding program, is heading to Iowa Western Community College to play baseball. Click here to read his story.
• Grad Devin Short, who served as a U.S. Senate page during his junior year in Washington D.C., is returning to the capital to attend Georgetown. Click here to read his story.
• Grad Abigail Amend, who spent the last two years on the campus of Fort Hays State University, is attending Kansas State University in the fall to become a physical therapist. Click here to read her story.