Deborah Vann attended the Fort Smith Adult Education Center during the Fall of 2012 and sharpened her skills in reading, language, and math before she moved on to culinary arts school. Deborah baked the staff several delicious bundt cakes and Christmas cookies. She definitely has a passion for baking!
Here is her story:
I have been blessed to have the opportunity to attend Le Cordon Bleu in Dallas, Texas. Cooking has been a passion of mine for a long time. After losing my job at Whirlpool due to the plant closing, I had a meeting with my TAA specialist James Nash at the Department of Workforce Services. He asked me what I would like to do now that the plant was closing. I visited some culinary arts programs nearby, but none seemed right for me.
In the summer of 2012, we took the family on a mini-vacation to Dallas for four days. While watching television at the hotel, I saw a commercial about the Le Cordon Bleu in Dallas. I immediately called the college and talked to Mrs. Karen Davis. She invited me for a visit to the school. We went to the school and looked in on some of the classes. I distinctly remember the pleasant aroma of baking chocolate. The students were making all kinds of chocolate candy.
After this visit I was on Cloud 9! I came back to Fort Smith and talked to James Nash and he started my paper work. Classes begin February 18! I am enrolled for two years to receive my certificate in culinary arts when I graduate. This certificate will open doors to exciting careers in restaurants, hotels, resorts, bakeries, pastry shops and more.