CCAP offers long-term career growth - and immediate support, too

It's a scholarship program. It's a career advisory forum. It's a networking space and system. It's a skills-building exercise.

Describing the Career in Culinary Arts Program is a little like that "describe an elephant while blind" thing.

Depending upon where you're standing at any given moment, CCAP seems to morph into a diverse array of programs, with only one constant: at the core, it's always about things culinary.

So it's not surprising when some CCAP students describe the program as, put simply, life changing.

Take Jennifer Arrieta Cruz. A 2017 CCAP competitor and scholarship winner, she's working with Silvana Salcido Esparza at Barrio Café Gran Reserva and studying for her associate's degree.

"I honestly never thought I'd get to have a job - let alone go to college," she says.

"For me, CCAP has become this big family of supporters and friends who help in all sorts of ways."

For Jennifer, CCAP's many professionals and enthusiasts comprise "a huge asset" in giving students not simply support, but also a "level of caring about each individual" that gives real assistance with real-world problems.

"Without CCAP, I'd be just looking for a job. I figured out that four years of work could get enough to pay for a year of college.  But now I have CCAP's scholarship."

Juan C. Salgado is another CCAP competitor who says, "CCAP was an opportunity for me. I gained a view of what can happen after CCAP opens that door, and I learned what I need to make it in this industry."

Juan's been working - with great enthusiasm - with Marcos Seville, executive chef at the Omni at Montelucia.  "I get to go to work and learn new foods and new products. I'm working garde manger and…work is not work."

He's also completing his first classes at Gateway Community College's culinary program.

Juan competed in CCAP's competition as a high school junior, and it taught him, he says, "…to try again. And not just try harder, but to do better."

A self-described "shy guy," Juan credits his culinary group from school and his work with CCAP and the competition with helping him to become "proactive" in his work and his friendships.

As he noted in his CCAP essay, "Giving back to my community is one of my goals…if my community…didn't give me the strength to get out there and…actually do something for myself, I wouldn't be here trying to achieve this dream."

Both Juan and Jennifer faced significant personal and educational challenges in completing - and winning! - CCAP's competitions this past year.

It took courage, determination and persistence for each, along with culinary talent and capability.

Each relied on family, friends and teachers for advice and support.

They also decided to rely on CCAP.

"I think CCAP is like this big family," Jennifer says, "a family of supporters and friends who can help in all sorts of ways.

"There is a level of caring about each individual. They keep in touch and they keep helping. It's a huge asset."

"CCAP was an opportunity," says Juan.

"They gave me a view of what can happen later - and what I need to make it in this industry."

Says Jennifer, "I honestly didn't know what sorts of opportunities there can be in culinary - and CCAP has helped me to see my goals are in reach."