The Culinary Arts program at Selma High School held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to celebrate the official opening of its new kitchen.

“This is exciting,” said Dr. Avis Williams, Superintendent of Selma City Schools. “It gives our students the opportunity to get more real world experience. I love to make sure our children are exposed and the best way to do that is to make sure they have hands-on experiences.”

The new kitchen has been in the works for a year – its initial inspection was roughly four months ago. After a few modifications to the facility’s deep fryer, the kitchen received final approval last month.

The program began in 2015 and, until now, students worked out of a makeshift kitchen. With the new kitchen’s opening, students have the benefit of learning in a professional kitchen.

“The hospitality industry is huge,” Williams said. “We’re always going to need workers to fill those positions in hospitality and tourism.”

Tiffany Moore, the Hospitality and Tourism teacher at Selma High, agrees.

“My students will always have a job because there will always be restaurants,” Moore said. “We want to expose our students to more than just Selma.”

Along with working alongside area chefs to hone their skills in knife handling, dining etiquette and kitchen terminology, students will learn about new cuisines, exotic ingredients, proper nutrition and how to prepare a balanced meal on a budget.

Though the program just opened its new kitchen, students in the program have already been recognized for their culinary prowess. Last year, students took home top honors for their chicken curry soup in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Junior Chef competition and finished fourth during a summer competition in Lexington, Kentucky.

“Food takes us so many places,” Moore said. “Food brings us together.”

The Culinary Arts program isn’t stopping with the kitchen. Moore plans to establish a dining area and conference room that will be open to local groups and businesses by the next school year.

The program is currently looking to partner with more local chefs and restaurants and hopes to receive donations and sponsorships from other area businesses. For more information, contact Selma City Schools at (334) 874-1600.