Happenings at North East Technology Center

By Gary Dotterer
Northeast Technology Center

Culinary Arts Students from NTC Afton Campus Demonstrate Their Culinary Skills
at the 9th Annual Grove Home and Garden Show

The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Greater Grand Lake Home Builders Assoc. recently held the 9th Annual Grove Home & Garden Show. The annual event featured over 75 exhibits of home and garden products. "How to" seminars and demonstrations and cooking shows were held throughout the weekend. Students from the Culinary Arts program at Northeast Technology Center's Afton Campus demonstrated a couple of culinary dishes. Stephanie Million a first year student and junior from Miami and King Ramirez an adult student from Jay participated dazzled audiences with their culinary demonstrations.

The students under the guidance of Jenean Perryman, instructor of the Culinary Arts program, setup a make shift kitchen to create a couple of signature dishes. Ms. Million demonstrated how to create homemade egg pastawith spinach and ricotta cheese stuffed ravioli tossed in a Parmesan Sauce. Mr. King demonstrated Chicken Picatta and saffron rice. These students arealso part of the NTC Culinary Team that will participate in the prestigious Sysco Culinary Cup on February 22 and 23 held in Norman Oklahoma.

Stephanie Million from Miami creates her homemade egg pasta with spinach and ricotta cheese stuffed ravioli tossed in a Parmesan Sauce during the Grove Home and Garden Show.

King Ramirez from Jay shown here with his Chicken Picatta and saffron rice dish during the Grove Home and Garden Show.

Domestic Occupational Services Students Create Beautiful Arrangements for Valentines Day

Northeast Technology Center's Domestic Occupational Services program at the Afton campus was hard at work during the Valentines Day holiday. Students filled over 138 orders by creating beautiful carnation & rose arrangements, balloon bouquets, and stuffed animal Valentine Day balloons. Each creation had its own unique design and were all created by the students under the guidance of Donna Victor, Domestic Occupational Services instructor. According to Ms. Victor, "This project began eight years ago and has steadily increased in the number of orders over the years." Orders are placed by students, staff, faculty, and administration of NTC. The
arrangements have become so popular that the public from the surrounding community have begun to place orders on this special day. Orders are picked up by customers or delivered by the Industrial Occupational Services programstudents.

The Valentines Day project teaches the students many different skills found in floral industry such as; flower preparation & storage, arrangement creations, bow tying, order placement, and team building. According to the students they enjoy the Domestic Occupational Services program and have learned many skills from Ms. Victor that they can apply to their everyday lives. The program is a 1050 hour program and was designed to help students become self-reliant and employable. Students are given individualized instruction where possible, and are allowed to progress at their own pace. Other skill sets such as laundry services, institutional & hotel/motel housekeeping, and food services are taught in this program.

From left to right are; Amanda Stiles a first year student and sophomore from Miami, Rebecca Hoover a third year student and junior from Wyandotte, Cassandra Birdsong a third year student and senior from Wyandotte, Crystal Wood a first year student and junior from Miami, Kayla Williams a first year student and junior from Picher, Cassandra Mahurin a third year student and senior from Picher, Donna Victor, Domestic Occupational Services instructor, Maranda Sparks a second year student and junior from Wyandotte, and Ester McLaughlin a first year student and sophomore from Wyandotte creating Valentine Day floral arrangement orders.

From left to right are; Amanda Clots a third year student and senior from Pitcher, Catherine Woodrome a first year student and senior from Afton, Alexis Mantooth a third year student and senior from Afton, Brandy Lawson a second year student and junior from Quapaw, Samantha Miller a first year student and sophomore from Miami, Tara Hull a first year student and sophomore from Wyandotte, Kristen Snider a third year student and senior from Wyandotte, and Tabitha Wethey a first year student and junior from Afton assembling balloon bouquets during the Valentines Day holiday.

Cake Decorating Class Create Valentine Day Chocolate Delights

Northeast Technology Center's Beginning/Advanced Cake Decorating Class recently finished celebrating Valentines Day with their candy creations. The short term night class meets on Monday evenings teaching students how to create these wonderful chocolate delights. The class runs through March 5th, but don't worry, a new session will begin on March 26th.

Adult students around the area work together in a team environment to produce treats that would even leave Willy Wonka amazed. The class also teaches students cake decorating skills such as; basket weave, flowers, Cornelius lace, puff flower, figure piping, cake icing, leveling, and various borders. The students finished the program with a cake decorating contest where they match their skills with others in the class for the top cake decorating title.

Adult students creating Valentine Delights during the Beginning/Advanced Cake Decorating class at NTC Pryor Campus