Recently 10 students in the Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts program at Lee County High Tech Center Central achieved ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification. The students receiving the certification are Jacob Nabor, Stephen Sparrow, Katherine Fleck, Deyana Outlaw, Ryan Burch, Ernest Hill, Brian Wilson, Thomas Cissna, Scott Botsford and Travis Curry. In addition, Arron Dougherty, an Education Paraprofessional, received the certification, said Joe Mastrangelo, instructor of Commercial Foods & Culinary Arts at Lee County High Tech Center Central.

The students attended eight hours of training presented by Celia Hill, County Extension Director, Lee County Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, through the University of Florida. The students then had to pass a three-hour exam to receive the nationally recognized and accredited certification. Restaurants in Florida are required to have at least one certified manager per facility.

While attending the 1,500-hour Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts program at High Tech Central, students prepare daily lunches for over 600 students and staff. Students learn all aspects of the culinary world, including sanitation, inventory calculation, ordering, menu planning and food preparation in a state-of-the-art kitchen.

Students who complete the program are employed in restaurants throughout Southwest Florida and some have gone on to open their own restaurants, Mastrangelo said.