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As Americans' tastes for fine cuisine grew in the 1980's, so too did the demand for professionally-trained chefs. In 1983, two Portland businessmen, Horst Mager (locally famous for his Rheinlander restaurant and yearly Oktoberfest celebration) and Donald Waldbauer, teamed up to establish Western Culinary Institute. WCI quickly gained a reputation for being a private culinary arts program.
The school, originally called the Horst Mager Culinary Institute, and its quality hands-on curriculum attracted students from all over the United States as well as many countries around the world. In 1986, the school adopted its current name, Western Culinary Institute, to better reflect its geographic location and reputation as a nationally-recognized culinary institute.
Ten years later, WCI became a part of Career Education Corporation, and in 1999, more prestige came with another affiliation: WCI formed a partnership with the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu so that all future WCI students can graduate with a coveted Le Cordon Bleu Diplôme in addition to the specialized degrees.
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