Student Powered
Shamrock Station is a recent addition to Westfield Washington Schools’ outreach to the community. Formerly the location of the Westfield Washington Public Library, the site on Hoover Street is situated between Westfield High School and Westfield Middle School. Besides being the district’s event center, it houses programs and educational opportunities with the goal of making students life-ready upon graduation.
The event space and commercial catering kitchens are the focal point of Shamrock Station. However, in addition to the location of senior-level courses in the culinary arts pathway, it is the home of Foodies Rock, a student-led food service and catering operation; Rocks Media House, the district’s face to the community via content creation; and Shamrock Connections, a program teaching life and vocational skills to students ages 18 to 22. It also has a spot for a hydroponic garden and a future spirit wear shop.
Nikki Heflin is a culinary arts instructor and the lead content specialist for family and consumer science classes. She had been an adviser to Foodies Rock since it was initiated in 2017. According to Heflin, Shamrock Station is unique in the opportunities it opens for students.
“No one else in the state has a model like this. Our district saw a need and worked with the city to acquire the building. The culinary program is growing leaps and bounds. Foodies Rock has become a mainstay in the community, catering events for Mayor Scott Willis, Westfield Library Foundation and Women of Westfield, among others. It caters in surrounding suburbs and even worked an event at the Indiana Statehouse where students got to meet the governor,” Heflin says.
“We needed an event space to teach working the front of the house as well as the back. The off-premises catering will continue, but we have added this on top. The culinary courses taught at Shamrock Station are part of a four-year scaffolding program that covers basics to internship. In partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, students can graduate with 19 college credits and four different certifications. Upon graduation, they can go straight into the industry, work in the community or go to higher learning institutions such as Purdue University or the Culinary Institute of America,” Heflin says.
There is a spirit of support and collaboration among all the educational programs at Shamrock Station. Shamrock Connections students can use a kitchen, take a culinary class and help with setup duties for events. They also helped unpack boxes when Shamrock Station opened in fall 2025. Rocks Media House is available for hire to document events by shooting videos and taking photos.
Award-winning Foodies Rock began as an after-school academic club, but today is available to cater events both off-site and in the event space within Shamrock Station. As the event coordinator, Heflin works with businesses, community organizations or individuals to book and plan the event. She shares menus and tailors the specifications for each gathering.
“The biggest goal of Shamrock Station is to allow students the opportunity to fully connect with the community. It highlights Hoosier hospitality as well as the different employment pathways that can be taken. It is so enjoyable and rewarding to see students work in our community or go on to higher education,” Heflin says.
For catering or events, contact Foodies Rock at 317-867-6842 or email Heflinn@wws.k12.in.us.
