At its core, Chicken Dinner is about gratitude. We know that choosing a school is a big decision. Our students trust us with their education, their time, and their dreams, and this meal is a small but meaningful way to show how much that trust means to us. Classrooms and outdoor spaces turn into shared tables. As students and instructors and staff share this meal side by side, the Avalon campuses feel more connected.

Shae Craven, school director of Avalon’s Layton, UT, campus, explains, “We are a family company that wants to make sure our students have that family feeling from a warm meal with each other.” That sense of family is something prospective students often look for, and it’s something we work intentionally to create, not just during Chicken Dinner, but on typical days on campus too.

Chicken Dinner also recognizes that the holidays can be complicated. Not everyone has family nearby, and not everyone feels the joy of the season in the same way. “We do the Chicken Dinner in November for Thanksgiving to celebrate our students and come together to celebrate the holiday. We also recognize that some people don’t have family or anything,” shares our Mesa, AZ, campus education director Brenden Walls. For many students, this meal becomes a moment of belonging and community when they need it most.

In today’s world, community matters more than ever. “Times are tough right now socially and financially. And it’s even tougher for students. So knowing that we were able to provide a warm hearty meal for the students makes my heart happy,” says Las Vegas school director Nimi Dhaliwal.

Chicken Dinner may seem simple: a shared meal before Thanksgiving. But it reflects something deeper about Avalon Institute. We’re not just preparing students for a career. We’re also supporting them as people. If you’re looking for a school where community, care, and connection matter, Chicken Dinner is just one example of what it means to be part of the Avalon family.