Don’t miss out on Delaware County Community College (DCCC) classes because they’re too far away! Beginning this January, the DCCC culinary arts program is expanding into Phoenixville with four classes offered over the spring semester.
At its main campus and Phoenixville outpost at the Phoenixville Senior Center at 135 Church Street, DCCC offers certificate and associate degree programs that have already launched dozens, if not hundreds, of culinary careers across the region.
There’s been a distinct effort on the part of DCCC to ensure communities across Chester County receive the same opportunities as their Delaware County counterparts.
“We are thrilled to be offering another location to serve Chester County students,” says DCCC’s president Dr. Marta Yera Cronin. “It represents our commitment to providing greater accessibility to education to residents of both Delaware and Chester Counties.”
In Phoenixville, classes are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-7 p.m. or 6-10 p.m. and include topics like Culinary 1, Culinary 2 and food safety as well as menu planning and cost control.
Teaching these courses are esteemed local chefs from across the region like Zack Hathaway, part of the husband-and-wife team behind Sweet Amelia’s, and Maria Campbell, co-founder of Cooks Who Care. As the new culinary arts program continues to expand over the coming years, DCCC plans to bring in further experts in the field and offer distinct new courses. Whether students use the skills learned from these classes in professional settings or their home kitchen, DCCC aims to set students up for success.
One of the program’s greatest triumphs in recent years has been the career of Lucas Jenkins-Michl. The Chester County local parlayed his studies in culinary arts from DCCC into an internship with the Union League of Philadelphia, where he eventually became head pastry chef. More recently, he led a group of students at the Chester County Educational Foundation Sweet Charity Fundraiser to take home the People’s Choice Award in 2023 and 2024.
For students on a budget, DCCC offers assistance through the Kelleher Connect Career Opportunity Fund. High school graduates who maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in all courses, are residents of Delco or Chesco and are enrolled in at least two academic courses in an eligible certificate program (of which culinary arts is included) qualify for up to $5,000 in financial assistance each semester.
Going forward, DCCC has big plans for the region. Coatesville may be the target for an expansion of its skill trades carpentry program. Furthermore, it announced plans to open a new branch of the college in Drexel Hill at the former Archbishop Prendergast High School. Between the 80,000-square-foot main building and 30,000-square-foot annex, DCCC aims to offer 14 majors for certificate and associate degrees. Additionally, a 17,000-square-foot early learning center is in the works for young learners at the same location.
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