Her appetite for baking started in high school. After just one class at her CTC, Gloria was hungry for more. She earned her associate’s in Baking & Pastry Arts at Penn College in 2019 and has seized every opportunity to perfect her craft since. She dreams of opening a bakery of her own. Today she’s building the business skills to make it happen by pursuing a bachelor’s in Applied Management.
I knew regular school wasn’t exactly for me. At my high school, I was able to do technology training instead of taking regular classes. My counselor suggested trying the baking class to see if I might enjoy it. I loved it, and my chef at Mount Joy CTC convinced me to continue my training!
My baking chef from my school is an alum of Penn College. She told me that I should consider visiting the college with my class. We visited the winter of 2016 and I fell in love with the campus, the passion of the professors, and the knowledge that’s available to me here.
My favorite thing that I’ve done so far is making croissants. They’re classically made by folding butter and dough into layers many times to make them super flaky. However, Chef Todd allowed a few of us to try a nontraditional way of making them and they turned out fantastic! As far as classes, my favorite class would have to be Cakes II where the focus is on wedding cakes and how to design them professionally.
My favorite part is the small class size. The most I’ve had in a class so far is about 20. This is ideal for learning instead of being a number in a classroom, and I know my professors personally! This is huge when it comes to asking questions about homework and projects because I don’t feel as intimidated by them. All of the professors are super nice and willing to work with you. They want to see you succeed!
I’d tell them to absolutely come visit! Penn College has so many pros and I love it here. The dorms are good for making friends and the RAs really care about their students. The school helps with costs by having a ton of scholarships available. All the professors, dining services workers, and student leaders are kind and want you to have a good day. There’s also a ton of activities, sports, clubs, and honor societies that are at your finger tips. There’s something for everyone!
I hope to work at a wedding cake or candy shop right after college. I’ve always been good with the finer details and decorating. I really enjoy making cakes and candy to sell or give to people. The joy on their faces makes the work worth it. Eventually, I hope to use my baking & pastry arts degree with my applied management degree to open my own place!
"I don’t learn by lecturing, so the labs help to solidify what is learned in lecture. There is just something about physically doing the task by yourself that works way better than trying to visualize or memorize information."
Gloria Boronow
Student, Baking & Pastry Arts
Gloria was among a select group of students who were invited to put their talents to the test at the Kentucky Derby and Breeder's Cup where she worked alongside Chef Charles and learned from other world-renown food professionals.
Gloria was one of several Penn College students to attend the 138th Philadelphia National Candy, Gift and Gourmet Show with Chef Charles. She worked with the show’s education director to execute a schedule of professional seminars and demonstrations.
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