McGavock High School students now have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience operating a small business with the launch of Raider Bites, the school’s new student-led food truck.
The food truck, unveiled March 5 at a special celebration on campus, was provided through a partnership with Intuit, the company behind TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp. Equipped with a commercial-grade kitchen, the truck is the first of its kind in Tennessee and will support Career and Technical Education (CTE) students as they develop the technical, financial, and entrepreneurial skills needed to run a business.
“The Intuit food truck program is more than just a vehicle; it’s a mobile classroom designed to equip students with real-world skills that translate directly into future careers and business ownership,” said Dave Zasada, Vice President at Intuit. “By integrating financial literacy and entrepreneurship education into hands-on experiences, we are preparing students for success beyond high school.”
The Raider Bites food truck will be managed by McGavock’s culinary students under the leadership of Chef Jeannine Nava. Culinary arts is one of three pathways in the Academy of Hospitality and the USCCU Academy of Finance, which serves 325 students.
This initiative offers real-world learning experiences not only for hospitality and finance students but also for those in other academies at McGavock. Culinary students will develop menus and operate a professional kitchen, while business and finance students will handle financial management. Additionally, McGavock’s digital design students worked with Intuit designers to bring their creative vision to life, designing graphics for the truck and promotional materials.
McGavock seniors Smith Beynen and Callie Ueltschi said they are excited about the opportunity the food truck program will provide future culinary arts students.
“This is a great opportunity to learn what it takes to run a business – it’s a lot of responsibility,” Ueltschi said.
Beynen also pointed out the opportunity for students to be involved in the community and take part in a program that will be fun and allow them to see various parts of town.
"Great for Our Future"
Nathaniel Truitt, a junior, looks forward to being involved with the food truck program next year.
“To have the experience working in the food business is a great opportunity and will be great for our future,” he said.
Wednesday’s unveiling event featured student performances, including the National Anthem sung by McGavock student Jaeda Mathis. Speakers included MNPS Board of Education Vice Chair and District 4 Member Dr. Berthena Nabaa-McKinney, Principal Bruce Jackson, Academy Coach Asa Bradley, Intuit Vice President Dave Zasada, and MNPS Director of Academies and CTE Daniel Phillips. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting and photo opportunities with the new food truck.
“This is an amazing opportunity for McGavock Culinary Arts students and the school community as a whole,” said McGavock Executive Principal Bruce Jackson. “Relevant experiences combined with real-world application equals growth and impactful change in the lives of our young people.”
This initiative is part of a nationwide effort by Intuit to support CTE students by providing food trucks, grants, curriculum, and access to financial management tools such as QuickBooks Online and the GoPayment Point of Sale app. McGavock joins districts in cities such as Compton, CA; Reno, NV; Dallas; Los Angeles; San Diego, and Denver in this transformative program. Notably, Metro Nashville Public Schools is the eighth district in the country – and the only one in Tennessee – to launch an Intuit food truck.