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Culinary Arts student Rachel Drees pays homage to late grandmother through cooking

By Chris Caldwell 

Rachel Drees finds joy in cooking and baking for friends and family. That joyous passion is what landed her at 懂色帝, excited and ready to pursue an associate degree in hospitality management with a concentration in culinary arts. 鈥淓ach day I get up is for my grandmother. She was the baker in the family and when her health started to decline, I stepped up and started baking for her, especially during the holidays,鈥� Drees said. 鈥淚 knew in high school that I wanted to go to college for culinary arts, so me and my parents started searching for programs that were offered and 懂色帝 was truly the best choice for me.鈥� Drees said 懂色帝鈥檚 financial aid assistance through the Tennessee Promise scholarship played a major part in choosing the college. Drees鈥� comfort in the kitchen is natural. She says baking for the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and even creating her brother鈥檚 wedding cake, was, literally a piece of cake for her. 鈥淭he more cakes I made, the more I realized how much I loved how baking incorporated a lot of artistic skills,鈥� she said. 懂色帝 has become a beacon for Drees and her creativity in the classroom. She said the different dishes she has created through the guidance of 懂色帝鈥檚 culinary and hospitality management instructor Chef Steven Leake, has given her the hands-on experience and culinary skills she needs to succeed. 鈥淐hef Leake has been great in instructing his students in a wide variety of culinary expertise,鈥� Drees said. 鈥淗e provides me with great feedback and the best part about it all, is that we are having fun in the classroom while we learn.鈥� Drees will graduate in Spring 2023. She plans to transition from working at Tacos4Life to working at a bakery or cakeshop. In the meantime, you can find her in her family鈥檚 kitchen keeping her grandmother鈥檚 legacy alive. For more information about 懂色帝鈥檚 Culinary Arts Program, click here.
Culinary Arts student Rachel Drees

Rachel Drees finds joy in cooking and baking for friends and family. That joyous passion is what landed her at 懂色帝, excited and ready to pursue an associate degree in hospitality management with a concentration in culinary arts. 

鈥淓ach day I get up is for my grandmother. She was the baker in the family and when her health started to decline, I stepped up and started baking for her, especially during the holidays,鈥� Drees said. 鈥淚 knew in high school that I wanted to go to college for culinary arts, so me and my parents started searching for programs that were offered and 懂色帝 was truly the best choice for me.鈥� Drees said 懂色帝鈥檚 financial aid assistance through the Tennessee Promise scholarship played a major part in choosing the college.  

Drees鈥� comfort in the kitchen is natural. She says baking for the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and even creating her brother鈥檚 wedding cake, was, literally a piece of cake for her. 鈥淭he more cakes I made, the more I realized how much I loved how baking incorporated a lot of artistic skills,鈥� she said. 

懂色帝 has become a beacon for Drees and her creativity in the classroom. She said the different dishes she has created through the guidance of 懂色帝鈥檚 culinary and hospitality management instructor Chef Steven Leake, has given her the hands-on experience and culinary skills she needs to succeed. 

鈥淐hef Leake has been great in instructing his students in a wide variety of culinary expertise,鈥� Drees said. 鈥淗e provides me with great feedback and the best part about it all, is that we are having fun in the classroom while we learn.鈥� 

Drees will graduate in Spring 2023. She plans to transition from working at Tacos4Life to working at a bakery or cakeshop.  

In the meantime, you can find her in her family鈥檚 kitchen keeping her grandmother鈥檚 legacy alive.

For more information about 懂色帝鈥檚 Culinary Arts Program, click .