Culinary program in Tyler attracts attention

  • 2024-09-03
At the convention of the Texas Chefs Association (TCA), three professors from Tyler Junior College (TJC) were in the spotlight.

Kortney McMillan was recognized as East Texas Educator of the Year; Rebekah Pool was named East Texas Pastry Chef of the Year and State Educator of the Year; and Larry Matson was re-elected the State Secretary-Treasurer. Announcements of such special acknowledgments are often made known throughout a college community with flyer printing.

The Culinary Arts program at TJC has been in existence since 2019 and has enabled students to learn in a state-of-the-art facility on the main campus of the college. This facility has a commercial kitchen that is fully equipped with a dining area, where students are exposed to a real restaurant setting to learn their craft. The program originally offered a basic culinary certificate and an associate degree.

It has since grown with specialized credentials in food service and baking and pastry. This fall the program at TJC will offer two more Associate of Applied Science degrees. The first one will be in hospitality and restaurant management with a focus on guest interactions and business competence to ensure the successful operation of restaurants. The second will be in pastry and baking with advanced courses in chocolates and confections, menu management, food service, and cake decorating.