Wilmington Students Cook Up Preparations for Annual Wine and Food Fundraiser

GLOW Academy students learn culinary skills from celebrity chef ahead of Cape Fear Wine + Food Experience

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:04pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stack of golden biscuits repeated in a grid, conceptually representing the culinary skills and entrepreneurial spirit of the GLOW Academy students participating in the local food and wine festival.GLOW Academy students gain culinary and entrepreneurial skills by preparing homemade treats to serve at the annual Cape Fear Wine + Food fundraiser.Wilmington Today

Students at GLOW Academy, an all-girls public charter school in Wilmington, North Carolina, are preparing to participate in the annual Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser. The students have received a cooking lesson from celebrity chef Virginia Willis and will be setting up their own booth at the event to serve their own homemade treats. The fundraiser, which takes place on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., benefits GLOW Academy and Spark Academy.

Why it matters

The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience is a major annual event that brings together chefs and wines from around the region to raise funds for local schools. GLOW Academy's participation allows its students to gain valuable culinary and entrepreneurial experience, while also supporting the school's mission to provide a well-rounded education that prepares young women for success.

The details

GLOW Academy, which has been in Wilmington since 2016, serves students from 6th to 12th grade. As part of the school's curriculum, students learn cooking skills. For this year's Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience, some GLOW students will be preparing their own treats to serve at the event and will set up their own booth. Prior to the event, the students received a culinary lesson from James Beard Award-winning chef Virginia Willis, who taught them how to make biscuits.

  • The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2026 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • GLOW Academy has been in Wilmington since 2016.

The players

GLOW Academy

An all-girls public charter school in Wilmington, North Carolina that serves students from 6th to 12th grade.

Jahleese Hadley

The director of college access at GLOW Academy.

Virginia Willis

A James Beard Award-winning chef who taught the GLOW Academy students how to make biscuits ahead of the Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience.

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What they’re saying

“One of the things we're really passionate about here is looking for opportunities to give our students exposure and help them build the academic skills they need to be successful, but also the soft skills and professional skills.”

— Jahleese Hadley, Director of College Access, GLOW Academy

“Knowing how to cook and knowing how to feed yourself and knowing how to feed your family is one of the most powerful things we can do.”

— Virginia Willis, Celebrity Chef

What’s next

The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2026 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit GLOW Academy and Spark Academy.

The takeaway

The participation of GLOW Academy students in the Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience demonstrates the school's commitment to providing a well-rounded education that prepares young women for success, not just academically but also in practical life skills like cooking and entrepreneurship. The event allows the students to gain valuable experience while also supporting their school's mission.