Students Complete First Spanish Language Culinary Arts Class at Bishop State
The ten graduates of Bishop State’s “Culinary Skills with a Latin Flavor” program gather for a picture with Dr. Lawrence Brandyburg, Bishop State’s interim president (back row center); Dr. Leida Javier-Ferrell, President Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast (far right); Chef Shelia Osborn-Beck, class instructor (in blue on the right), Nailim Sanchez, coordinator and Spanish translator (third from left); and representatives from Mobile United (first and second people from the left).
MOBILE, Ala., April 18, 2022 - Students of the first culinary class for Spanish-speakers have completed the “Culinary Skills with a Latin Flavor” program through Bishop State Community College’s Adult Education department. The students earned national certificates for kitchen cook, restaurant server, and breakfast attendant, and the Mobile County Food Handler’s permit.
Students interested in becoming an entrepreneur through the food industry participated in Introduction to Culinary Arts and business development courses. Classes are taught by chefs who are certified by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute and are intended to support hospitality industry needs in the region. Upon completion, students received a chef’s coat and funds to purchase a City of Mobile Peddler’s license for a year.
Ten students completed the course and another 60 are in line to enter future classes. The class covers basic kitchen equipment and cooking standards, safety and sanitation guidelines, food handling and serving and business operations.
“We are so excited to add such an impactful program to our college,” says Dr. Lawrence Brandyburg, Bishop State Community College’s interim president. “This program not only meets the needs of the students but also
meets the needs of the community as well. Bishop State’s goal is to train the workforce needed in our community and this program is yet another example of us doing just that.”
The 12-week classes were offered in Spanish for 12 weeks online, two days a week with some in-class meetings at the end of the course. The course final requires students to prepare a meal before receiving their certifications.
The project was initiated by partners of Javier-Calametti, LLC, and made available at no cost to the students thanks to a competitive grant awarded by Mobile United to a group of concerned citizens, and the support of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast and Bishop State’s Adult Education Program.
“We are so proud of the students and the partner organizations,'' said Dr. Leida Javier-Ferrell, President of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast. “This kind of project can be replicated in other communities and states.”
The course was taught in English and all the course materials and tests were translated into Spanish by Nailim Sanchez. Students also took the Test of Adult Basic Education, or TABE, and were offered the opportunity to register for ESL online with Bishop State. Students are required to take a certification test and an eight-hour kitchen practice course before enrolling. For more information about this program, contact Bishop State's Adult Education Department at 251-662-5370 or adulteducation@bishop.edu.
