Trinity University Students Turn Grilled Cheese into an Entrepreneurial Experience Through Community Partnership with the Pearl

Trinity University and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at the Pearl collaborated on a pilot Entrepreneurship Boot Camp that brought together 10 students from each institution to learn what it takes to turn creative food ideas into viable business concepts. During the week-long program, teams developed innovative grilled cheese sandwich concepts, combining culinary skills with business planning, marketing strategy, and pitching their ideas. Trinity’s team was managed by Mar-y-Sol Salinas-McCoy, Ph.D., senior director for academic success. 

​Students from both schools with diverse academic backgrounds, including marketing, engineering, and culinary arts, collaborated, gaining hands-on experience in Trinity classrooms and CIA professional kitchens. The collaboration culminated in a public competition at the Pearl Farmers Market, where visitors could sample the students’ grilled cheese creations, which had been evaluated by a team of judges for taste, business viability, marketing, and hospitality execution. Read the full story in San Antonio Report here.

This program was also covered by the San Antonio Current, San Antonio Express-News, and KSAT 12 News Friday, 1/9/26 and KSAT 12 News Sunday, 1/11/26.