Culinary Arts Program Adds Flavor to Educational Options
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SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE @plainsman_press PLAINSMAN PRESS www.plainsmanpress.com Levelland, Texas A bi-weekly collegiate publication Vol. 61 • Issue 1 • September 17, 2018 Culinary Arts program adds flavor to educational options by MAKAYLA “As far as the first two KNEISLEY weeks in, I did anticipate News Editor for students to be excited and eager, and that’s re- ally encouraging for us,” The new Culinary Arts added Chef Osuna. “We program recently opened are still working on stu- its classroom doors and dents doing their Pearson welcomed its first batch software homework, but of students at the Lubbock we are building on that Center campus. and trying to give every The Culinary Arts pro- student every resource gram offers two types of possible for their suc- certificates, the associate cess.” certificate and the certifi- Guadalupe Macias, a cate program. student at South Plains “The certificate pro- College who is in the gram helps people who new program, said, “The want to get in and move program is great, and I forward,” says Chef Pat- will get to do a lot of rick Ramsey, Culinary hands-on. Chef Osuna, Arts executive chef and Chef Ramsey, and Chef program specialist at SPC. Austin are all very skilled “Once you graduate, you and wonderful chefs that will get five certificates, I think are going to make you’ll get the basic certifi- Chef Patrick Ramsey instructs students on how to properly cut a carrot during the sec- this a wonderful experi- cate, advanced certificate, ond week of classes for the new Culinary Arts program at the Lubbock Center campus. ence.” baking and cooking cer- “I believe the class will tificate, bar manager cer- MAKAYLA KNEISLEY/PLAINSMAN PRESS certainly help students get tificate, and a purchasing jobs,” he added, “because certificate. So, whether cooking lines, and two as much as cooking has lie Osuna, Culinary Arts week for an instructor to they offer internships, and you pick the certificate specialty labs, baking, and academics involved in program developer. join,” said Chef Osuna. if they do really good in program or the associate meat cutting. it, cooking is a hands-on “We hit the ground run- “But he did a fantastic their time there, you might program, when you walk “We built this culinary skill. You have to know ning,” said Chef Osuna, job, and continues to do a See “Culinary” on lab to help people pursue what a proper steak feels “both the students and the fantastic job for us.” out of here you have a lot pg. 2 of knowledge and creden- their culinary dreams, or like when it’s done. It’s staff.” tials.” even for the people who very tactile.” A third instructor was The Culinary Arts pro- are just wanting to try Since the program added recently, as Austin Alexander becomes new Executive gram at the Lubbock Cen- it,” Chef Ramsey said. welcomed its first 54 stu- McManus joined the pro- ter campus has four labs “They get a lot of hands- dents on Aug. 27, it has gram two days into the Director of Lubbock Center which mirror each other, on time, more table time, been “fast and furious,” semester. Texas Tech, Alexander each one having their own more cook time. Because according to Chef Nata- “That was a difficult by KAITLYN HYDE Photo Editor began working in mer- chandising at a distribu- Benjamin Alexander tion center, US Foodser- Newest residence hall named after Gerstenbergers says his vision for South vice. He worked for that Plains College is to see company for 17 years by AUTUMN Sept. 7. More than 175 tor, as well as a football 1967 as secretary to the students become success- before deciding that it BIPPERT members of the Levelland coach, before moving Registrar. She spent 26 ful and to share his love was time to venture back Editor-in-Chief community, along with to Levelland. He taught years assisting SPC stu- for education with others. to TTU, where he later friends and family of the agriculture at SPC from dents in the registrar’s of- At the beginning of earned a bachelor’s degree After 60 years of dedi- Gerstenbergers, were in 1958 to 1969, then served fice, and then later worked the 2018 fall semester, he in Educational Counsel- cating their lives to South attendance. The dedica- as Dean of Men from in Financial Aid, Special was appointed as the new ing and business. From Plains College, Earl and tion was followed by a 1967 to 1973. In 1973, Services and the Business Executive Director at the there, Alexander decided June Gerstenberger re- ribbon cutting and a re- he was became Dean of Office. Lubbock Center. By of- to switch his profession cently were honored with ception for the honorees. Students, a position he The Board of Regents fering new opportunities, from business to educa- Alexander helps students tion. “I switched to the have a positive outlook ED position because it towards education. was a natural fit for me,” Alexander, a Lubbock Alexander said. native, graduated from He recalls that he also Estacado High School in took the skills he devel- 1983. After graduating, he oped while working for went on to attend a com- US Foodservice and ap- munity college, Western plied them to his own Texas College, located in business, which happens Snyder, Texas. to be education. “I attended college as For 12 years, Alexan- an afterthought when my der served as an academic art teacher encouraged and career advisor at the me to apply for a schol- SPC Reese Center campus arship and capitalize my prior to accepting the new artistic talent,” Alexander position. recalls. “She deposited In 2006, Alexander into me and got me vested used his counseling edu- in higher education.” cation and business back- After completing two ground to become a career Earl and June Gerstenberger (center), are joined by son Brian and daughter Sharon, semesters at Western Tex- counselor at SPC. He also along with SPC President Dr. Robin Satterwhite, and Mike Box, chairman of the Board as College, he transferred taught career development of Regents on Sept. 7 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Gerstenberger Hall. to Texas Tech Univer- and human development KENDALL RAINER/PLAINSMAN PRESS sity in 1984, majoring in classes as an adjunct in Design Communication. structor. Later on, he decided to Alexander says that he the dedication of Gersten- Earl Gerstenberger was held until 1982, when he passed a resolution on change his major to gen- had “worked with various berger Hall. one of the first faculty became vice president of May 10, 2018 to change eral studies and centered SPC program departments The South Plains Col- members to be hired at academic affairs before the name of the college’s his focus on Art, Humani- lege Board of Regents and SPC. He was a former retiring in 1993. newest student residence ties, and Communication. See “Alexander” on administration hosted the Blinn College agricul- June Gerstenberger See “Gerstenbergers” After graduating from pg. 2 dedication ceremony on ture and science instruc- joined the SPC staff in on pg. 2 Cover to Cover Board of Regents Student finds career New ‘Desiny’ expan- SPC basketball Aerial fitness center Feature page 4 discuss CDL truck path from her family sion restores hope teams get new in Lubbock teaches Entertainment page 6 driving school. struggles. for fans. assistant coaches. flexibility and new Opinion page 8 skills. Sports page 9 Spotlight page 10 page 3 page 5 page 7 page 9 page 10 2 News September 17, 2018 Plainsman Press Fitzgerald named dean of dual enrollment, distance education by AUTUM BIPPERT I didn’t want to spend gust of 2018. In addition ing a whole variety, auto other opportunities, that that course, even if I teach Editor-in-Chief anymore time dissertating to his new responsibilities, body, auto mechanics. So they don’t yet take advan- that course with just 15 and researching. Then I he will continue his role of that’s a huge initiative. tage of. kids in it, it’s something.” was hired on here at South director of the Research We’re thinking that we “What I tell everybody Fitzgerald explains that Ryan Fitzgerald is Plains College.” Office. Fitzgerald said it could possibly get another is that the two biggest top- because the class is an helping thousands of high Fitzgerald has work has all just been a huge 500-plus students in the ics in education in Texas evening course, most of school students in his new for SPC since July 2014. progression. spring for that.’ today are dual credit and his students aren’t the role. He started out working “I love the job,” Fitzgerald says he distance education,” said typical fresh-out-of-high- Fitzgerald recently was in the research office as a Fitzgerald said. “I’ve al- wants the dual credit Fitzgerald. “And I’m just school students. Most all announced as ways been passionate program at SPC to stay lucky I get to kind of front of them work, a lot of the new Dean about dual credit. Be- hands-on and personal both of those efforts for them have children, and a of Dual En- cause that’s where I with high school counsel- the college.” lot of them are nontradi- rollment and got my start with col- ors. He wants the program Fitzgerald also teaches tional in terms of age. Distance Edu- lege courses. I took to grow, but foresees dif- an evening government “So they have other cation, adding dual credit when I ficulties with keeping a course at the Reese Center things on their plate be- to his previous was in high school.