The aroma of opportunity is in the air at Gervais High School! On April 10th, families, students, and staff gathered between the middle and high schools for a special sneak peek at a project that’s been cooking for months: the district’s very own food truck, custom-built by the talented team at PDX Cart Builders.
The brand-new mobile kitchen is the latest addition to the school’s growing Culinary Arts Program, and it’s already making waves. Outfitted with professional-grade equipment—including a griddle, fryers, a sandwich prep table, and refrigeration units—this fully functional food truck isn’t just impressive; it’s a rolling classroom designed to launch students into Oregon’s thriving food scene.
“The energy at the Student Showcase was electric,” said culinary instructor Maddy Van Dewalker. “Families from both schools toured the truck, asked questions, and got a feel for what this new mobile kitchen can offer. It was an amazing moment for our program and our community.”
Built on a brand-new 2022 Ford F59 18’ step van and tailored specifically for Gervais CTE Culinary students, the food truck will serve as a launchpad for hands-on learning in every corner of the culinary world—from food prep and safety to customer service, inventory tracking, event planning, and even small business operations. This kind of real-world experience is exactly what Career & Technical Education (CTE) is all about.
“Expanding a culinary program to include a food truck component to connect with the local community—some of whom operate their own food trucks—is a winning approach to another aspect of CTE,” said Scott Rose, Senior Project Manager at R&C Management Group, who has supported the district throughout the project.
To top it all off—literally—the truck is now fully wrapped in a bold, custom-designed graphic created in collaboration with Gervais students. The final design showcases their creativity and school pride, making the truck not only a teaching tool, but a moving work of art.
“This project is more than just a culinary tool—it’s a source of pride, creativity, and connection for our students,” Van Dewalker added. “We’re thrilled to share it with the community.”
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of staff, students, R&C Management, and PDX Cart Builders, the Gervais School District is cooking up something truly special. So keep your eyes (and appetites) open—because this food truck is just getting started, and the best is yet to come!