On Thursday, June 17,the Adult Culinary Arts Program at First State Community Action Agency held a commencement for sixteen adults, all Sussex County residents who successfully completed a 14 week culinary training course.
The course, taught by Chef Instructor Phillip Harris, provided students with culinary arts training, job development skills and job placement assistance. Students gained skills in the art of cooking, food preparation, front-and back-of-the-house operations (servers), and ServSafe, a national certification course designed to teach proper sanitation and handling of food. Students also received training on resume writing, interview preparation, computer skills, literacy and math assistance, job safety training, and drug education in efforts to help them secure meaningful employment in the field.
Chef Harris stated, ”my goal was to instill in these students entry level skills that would enable them to achieve their career in culinary, even in a tough economy.” Chef Harris is an educator, consultant, and the owner of Deep Sea Phil, a catering business he’s operated for over 20 years.
“A lot of employers are looking for certification and experience,” said program manager MaryAnn Morris. Although the students came into the program with varying skill levels—some with years of relevant experience and others with none—she stated, “our program qualifies them for entry level positions and helps them advance more quickly in the field.”
Since its inception, the Culinary Arts program has graduated over 100 students, many of which have obtained and maintained jobs in the Food Service and Restaurant Industry. Some graduates have obtained employment in higher level restaurant jobs such as Dover Downs and local country clubs. Others, such as 2007 graduate Charles Webb of Seaford, have built upon their experience and started their own business.
As for this cohort of happy grads, ten of them (63%) have already landed jobs in the field. 2010 graduate Gene Poppitt from Lincoln DE intends to utilize his newfound skills to enhance the family sub shop business and provide catering as an addendum. Poppitt remarked, “Chef Harris really opened my eyes to the industry and the opportunities that are out there. My experience in the program was great—it definitely inspired me to take the business to the next level!"
The Culinary Arts Program is a performance-based, job training program funded by the Department of Labor (administered by First State Community Action Agency). The program helps low-income, unemployed, and underemployed adults in Sussex County obtain job skills and placement assistance in the foodservice/restaurant industry. Courses are offered free of charge to qualified students.
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On Thursday, June 17,the Adult Culinary Arts Program at First State Community Action Agency held a commencement for sixteen adults, all Sussex County residents who successfully completed a 14 week culinary training course.
The course, taught by Chef Instructor Phillip Harris, provided students with culinary arts training, job development skills and job placement assistance. Students gained skills in the art of cooking, food preparation, front-and back-of-the-house operations (servers), and ServSafe, a national certification course designed to teach proper sanitation and handling of food. Students also received training on resume writing, interview preparation, computer skills, literacy and math assistance, job safety training, and drug education in efforts to help them secure meaningful employment in the field.
Chef Harris stated, ”my goal was to instill in these students entry level skills that would enable them to achieve their career in culinary, even in a tough economy.” Chef Harris is an educator, consultant, and the owner of Deep Sea Phil, a catering business he’s operated for over 20 years.
“A lot of employers are looking for certification and experience,” said program manager MaryAnn Morris. Although the students came into the program with varying skill levels—some with years of relevant experience and others with none—she stated, “our program qualifies them for entry level positions and helps them advance more quickly in the field.”
Since its inception, the Culinary Arts program has graduated over 100 students, many of which have obtained and maintained jobs in the Food Service and Restaurant Industry. Some graduates have obtained employment in higher level restaurant jobs such as Dover Downs and local country clubs. Others, such as 2007 graduate Charles Webb of Seaford, have built upon their experience and started their own business.
As for this cohort of happy grads, ten of them (63%) have already landed jobs in the field. 2010 graduate Gene Poppitt from Lincoln DE intends to utilize his newfound skills to enhance the family sub shop business and provide catering as an addendum. Poppitt remarked, “Chef Harris really opened my eyes to the industry and the opportunities that are out there. My experience in the program was great—it definitely inspired me to take the business to the next level!"
The Culinary Arts Program is a performance-based, job training program funded by the Department of Labor (administered by First State Community Action Agency). The program helps low-income, unemployed, and underemployed adults in Sussex County obtain job skills and placement assistance in the foodservice/restaurant industry. Courses are offered free of charge to qualified students.
