Culinary Students Serve Community
Students from Southeast Community College's Culinary Arts program put their hospitality training into action over the Thanksgiving season through multiple community service initiatives benefiting local organizations and SCC students.
Two of the Operations Management sections partnered with Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach to prepare meals for those in need. By Thanksgiving, students will have prepped three complete meals for the organization and traveled on-site to prepare and serve an additional dinner to guests. The hands-on experience allowed students to directly engage with community members while honing their culinary skills. Matt Talbot’s aims to defeat hunger and homelessness by providing two nutritious meals a day.
The Banquet and Buffet class is preparing pies for the Gathering Place's Thanksgiving dinner. The Gathering Place provides free hot, nutritious meals seven days a week from 5-6 p.m.to anyone in need, no questions asked. In addition, the Pastry Design class is creating 60 complete meals and desserts for the campus food pantry for SCC students.
"We feel strongly about our culinary and baking students giving back to the community," said Emma Nennemann, Food Service Hospitality instructor. "Hospitality is a cornerstone of our industry, and we need to extend that hospitality to those in need. These projects remind our students that their skills can make a real difference in people's lives."
The Thanksgiving service projects are part of SCC's ongoing commitment to community engagement and experiential learning, providing students with meaningful opportunities to apply classroom knowledge while supporting local organizations.
The Great Plains Culinary Institute at SCC offers comprehensive training in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, Hospitality Management, and Culinary Communications. As one of only two programs in Nebraska accredited by the American Culinary Federation, the Institute provides students with hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities, including Course Restaurant, an 80-seat restaurant, and Course Ground Coffee shop. The program is taught by American Culinary Federation-certified chefs and experienced faculty dedicated to developing the next generation of culinary professionals.
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
Southeast Community College
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu