Staying true to its commitment to serve Central Florida’s growing Hispanic community, Florida Technical College recently announced that registration is open for a fully-taught-in-Spanish Baking and Pasteleria program at its Kissimmee campus.
Accredited by the largest and most important professional organization of chefs and cooks in the nation, the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF), the program is now in its third edition. The 13-month-long program combines classroom training, hands-on kitchen experience and an externship at a commercial bakery.
“This program makes it possible for students to move forward with their academic goals while they are in the process of mastering English,” said Florida Technical College president, Dr. James Burkett. “By offering training in Spanish, we help an important segment of our community to develop a competitive edge to become gainfully employed in the local labor market.”
Central Florida recently saw a larger-than-usual influx of Puerto Ricans moving to the mainland after Hurricane Maria swept through the island with Category 5 force.
“I encourage Spanish speakers in Central Florida to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Wilmarie Rivera, Baking and Pasteleria lead instructor. “If you have a passion for baking, this program is the right fit for you. It covers the creative side of the industry as well as the business side of it, for a well-rounded approach to a promising career track.”
Some of the subjects covered in the program are nutrition and sanitation, baking techniques, facility and menu planning, and cost control.
Florida Technical College Kissimmee campus is also a Regional Chef Training Facility for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the world’s oldest gastronomic society founded in Paris in 1248. FTC is one of a handful of schools in the United States to currently hold the coveted designation, which will enable students and food preparation professionals to learn from nationally and internationally recognized chefs. At the same time, the campus is the headquarters of the American Culinary Federation Central Florida Chapter.
For additional information on the Baking and Pasteleria Spanish program and to register, visit http://www.ftccolleges.com/programs/artes-culinarias.php or call (407) 783-5700.
FTC recently merged with Puerto Rico-based National University College (NUC), which was previously a sister institution owned by the same parent company. In addition to FTC, NUC brought these four other learning institutions under its umbrella: The Digital Animation & Visual Effects (DAVE) School and Lasalle Computer Learning Center in Florida, as well as Instituto de Banca y Comercio and Ponce Paramedical College on the island.
National University College (NUC) is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (267) 284-5000. NUC’s Florida Technical College (FTC), The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School), and LaSalle Computer Learning Center (LCLC) are included in this accreditation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.