GRANITEVILLE — The six students who completed Christ Central Ministries' first Food Industry Training course didn't get to relax and enjoy their graduation Friday night at the Hope Center.
Before receiving their certificates, they had to work hard as they prepared and served dinner to their relatives and representatives of Christ Central.
"I'm more excited than nervous," said Synthia Johnson as she put strawberry balsamic vinaigrette on the salads in the kitchen before the meal began.
Johnson, 50, and her classmates spent 50 hours over three weeks learning how to wash dishes, set tables and handle and cook food. They also studied workplace etiquette, resume writing and job interview techniques.
"I'm pretty comfortable tonight because these are the things that we've been doing in our classes," Johnson said.
The final challenge for the students was to provide a fine dining experience and nearly everything went smoothly. They were polite and efficient, and their guests were appreciative as they enjoyed chicken breasts with mango chutney and steaks topped by grilled onions and mushrooms.
Also on the menu were warm yeast rolls with honey butter, loaded baked potatoes, roasted asparagus with sun-dried tomatoes, mango cheesecake and seven-layer chocolate bars.
"It went well; I'm very pleased," said Johnson afterward. "What really made me feel good were the smiles that I saw on everybody's faces, which let me know that they liked both the meal and the service. From the compliments that we received, I think we did a really good job."
Johnson would like to start her own business.
"I want to begin with catering and then have a restaurant," she said.
Mildred Floyd, 69, took the free course so she could improve her catering skills, and she found it to be helpful.
"There was some stuff I learned that I didn't know, and they showed me ways to do some things that were better than what I had been taught," Floyd said.
Kayla Kendrick, 23, and her aunt, Dawn Mixon, 44, took the course together.
"The classes were amazing," Kendrick said. "I love to cook, and I'll probably take it further now by trying different types of cooking and doing some catering."
Mixon was thinking about looking for a job in food services in a nursing home.
"This has been a great opportunity that can open up a lot of doors," she said.
The other graduates were Tammy Bowen and Gail Hoskins.
"It was an honor to be able to teach this class," said Mona Tilmon, who is Christ Central's executive chef and culinary instructor. "Some of the students had never done much in the kitchen before, but they learned to carve meat and they learned to take one type of meat and make five different meals. They stuck with it, and they're hungry for more."
Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter.