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A group of passionate chefs from each corner of the Aramark Collegiate Hospitality South region, including from The University of Southern Mississippi, showcased their culinary prowess at the 2025 Aramark Culinary Excellence competition (ACE) in mid-March at Auburn University.
The event’s first-place winner, Southern Miss Eagle Dining’s Chef Joshua Cathey, will advance to represent Aramark Collegiate Hospitality at the National ACE competition this summer. The winning dish consisted of pan-seared chicken breast, accompanied by a bed of toasted parmesan and rosemary orzo, topped with wilted spinach. This dish was elegantly finished with a rich honey Dijon pan sauce and tangy pickled radish, garnished with a crispy smoked paprika twill.
A 2012 Southern Miss graduate with a bachelor’s degree in tourism management, Cathey began his professional career in catering at Hattiesburg’s Lake Terrace Convention Center in 2010. Cathey joined Aramark Collegiate Hospitality in 2016 as a catering chef with Eagle Dining at Southern Miss. In 2021, he was promoted to executive chef at Southern Miss, where his passion and ingenuity are key to Eagle Dining’s success.
Cathey assisted with Aramark’s Culinary YOUniversity as a preceptor for the nutrition program on the graduate level and cooking demonstrations for students and other groups in the community. He is also on the culinary board for Hattiesburg High School, focusing on giving back to the next generation of culinarians.
“I love bringing new flavors to our students, and ACE allows us to put our creativity to the test and get inspired by fellow Aramark Collegiate Hospitality chefs from across the country,” Cathey said.
Cathey is a two-time South region champion of the ACE competition. He also won the South region in 2023 for his dish, blackened jerk fish atop coconut rice with citrus slaw and lime crema.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 16 countries around the world with food and facilities management. Because of our hospitality culture, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet.
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