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 .