About the program

Culinary Arts to Careers, A.K.A. CA2C is a Pilot Program offered to Sarasota County School ACCESS Student Seniors at Suncoast Technical College.

Students have the opportunity to earn four high school credit hours through STC's Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality Program. In addition to earning their industry certification, CA2C students participate in hands-on culinary training in the professional kitchen of STC's Bistro 502.

In addition students will learn with our instructor Executive Chef Giuseppe Urbano (Chef G for our students) to develop leadership skills, communication, and employability skills, food safety/ sanitation, use of culinary tools and equipment, interpret menus, basic food preparation skills, front of the house and back of the house responsibilities.

Students will be tested for the Safe Staff certification, prepare food for our "grab and Go" restaurant, in addition to preparing food for our new vending machine.

Students will also be introduced to propagation of seedlings, garden, and composting in our newly updated greenhouse at STC.

This school year 2022-23 we are introducing our second course, Intro to Baking & Pastry with Chef Sara Bevil.

Students will learn the fundamentals of baking and pastry, and learn to prepare and sell them in our bakery and our vending machine in the campus for training purposes

Program Coordinator Kathleen Mattingly said “CA2C students are being trained not only in culinary skills but are receiving life skills for adaptive and positive behavior that will enable them to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life and work.  Communication, interpersonal skills, decision-making, creativity, teamwork, and work ethics are strong components instilled each and every day.  Responsibility to ride the bus, enter the building as a new STC student, change into their formal attire, be ready for class in the culinary lab each day, follow directions, learn to communicate and work closely with their peers and fellow STC students attending the Culinary Arts program.  Inclusion is so very important as we strive for excellence in the workplace, post-graduation.”