The College of Southern Nevada celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of culinary students from the Nevada Department of Corrections on August 7, 2024. The graduation ceremony, held at the Casa Grande Transitional Housing Center, marked the culmination of months of training and education for the 10 graduates. About 40-50 attendees, including family members, correctional staff, and distinguished guests, gathered to witness this occasion.
The graduates received certificates recognizing their completion of the culinary program, which also grants them nine credits of CSN coursework. These credits are directly applicable towards an associate degree in Culinary Arts, offering the graduates a pathway to further education and career opportunities upon their release.
Katherine Jacobi, President of the Nevada Restaurant Association, and Amy Lee, Workforce Director of MGM Resorts International, were in attendance.
The culinary program is part of a broader initiative by CSN and the Nevada Department of Corrections to provide inmates with vocational training and education that can improve their prospects post-incarceration. By equipping incarcerated students with marketable skills, the program aims to reduce recidivism and support successful reintegration into society.
Dr. Genevieve Minter, CSN Prison Education Director, highlighted the long-term goals: “We have to teach them another way. Addressing recidivism rates is complicated, and the punitive or therapeutic models don’t always work. So we are helping to address it through education. Our goals are to reduce recidivism and empty prisons, and education is key.”
The graduates dressed in their chef’s whites beamed with pride as they received their certificates. For many, this achievement represents a second chance and a new beginning. One graduate Bobby Phammaly shared his thoughts on the program: “I am grateful and proud for the opportunity of higher learning. It’s giving me the skills to be an entrepreneur, and we are all learning how to become role models in our community.”
CSN Culinary Director Chef John Metcalf added: “I know I pushed you hard at times but you learned good time management and you’ll continue to keep growing.” CSN Chef Instructor Kelly commented on the graduates’ journey saying: “They are on a tough journey but navigating it with grace.”
With ongoing support from community partners and industry leaders CSN and the Nevada Department of Corrections are committed to providing more inmates with the opportunity to turn their lives around through education and vocational training.
For more information on the CSN Prison Education program visit their webpage.
