
Chef Sabrina Ford, Instructor at Moss Point High School, with nine of her students enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program.
Local high school students are gaining hands-on experience at Singing River Hospital in a profession much needed by the health care industry. This is the second year in a row Singing River Health System has hosted The Culinary Arts Program offered at Moss Point High School. The program is designed to prepare students for the post-secondary level in college along with the Restaurant Hospitality Food Service Industry. During the two year program students are taught industry standards such as food safety, sanitation, basic cooking, and baking principles.
Students enrolled in the program began the course in September of 2014 and participate in weekly visits to Singing River Hospital where they assist in practicing safe food handling procedures, food preparation, and customer service skills.
“These students bring so much inspiration to my own life as I watch them grow in their future career,” said Mary Cummings, Dietary Director, Singing River Hospital. ” Working with them makes me reflect on my past, and gives me a desire to stay in contact with them in order to mentor them and to help them follow their future careers and dreams.”
This group of students is led by Sabrina Ford, a Certified Culinary Arts Instructor with 15 years of experience in the Food Service Industry. Ford is a Sous Chef who is certified by Serv- Safe, is a graduate of Bishop State Community College Culinary Arts Program, and acts as a Serv-Safe examination proctor. She is also certified as a secondary ProStart Food Service Educator.
“The partnership with Singing River Health System is an invaluable learning experience to the students of The Moss Point High School Culinary Arts Program,” said Ford. “The ProStart Certificate of Achievement requires 400 work hours in an approved foodservice establishment. This valuable springboard assists the students in achieving this culinary milestone."