FTC News & Events

Join us Thursday January 26, 2012 from 5:30-8:00pm at Osceola Square Mall for dishes prepared by our very own Culinary Team!

A Latin American Salsa Legend will visit Central Florida to officially open the new Zazón Café Restaurant at Florida Technical College’s Kissimmee Campus.

Latin music star Andy Montañez, a pioneer in the Salsa genre, will cut the ribbon and mingle with the public at the Restaurant’s official Grand Opening celebration, which will take place on January 26^th at 5:30 p.m. During the ceremony, FTC’s President and Chief Executive Officer David Ruggieri will address the public.

Residents of Kissimmee and surrounding communities are invited to participate in this event, which will feature complimentary hors d'oeuvres, live entertainment and door prizes.

This grand opening coincides with FTC’s 30^th Anniversary celebration, expressed Mr. Ruggieri. “We are very proud of having been able to fulfill the dreams of numerous Central Florida students for the past thirty years,” he added. Regarding FTC’s plan for official anniversary celebrations, Mr. Ruggieri pointed out that the school is preparing a series of public events to mark the occasion, which will take place at all five FTC’s Campuses throughout the year, and will be forwarding this information to the media and the community as it becomes available.

FTC’s Culinary Arts team will take center stage during Zazón Café’s Grand Opening, as they will be in charge of preparing exquisite hors d'oeuvres and succulent dishes to delight the public. “Hors d'oeuvres will be complimentary, and our signature dishes will be available for purchase at very reasonable prices. This will offer the community the opportunity to sample our dishes at discounted prices,” said President Ruggieri.

“The main purpose of Zazón Café is to provide FTC’s Culinary Arts students with a venue for training and development. They are given the opportunity to practice what they have learned in the classroom, by performing in all the restaurant’s positions, from meal preparation to serving, preparing dinner tables and day to day operations and management,” explained Culinary Arts Department Chair, Juan Méndez. “Our students gain valuable real-world experience, in a real restaurant setting. In addition, by having a restaurant on-site, all of FTC’s students, faculty and staff, as well as the community at large, can enjoy freshly-made, delicious meals at affordable prices,” he added.

Special guest and Latin Grammy recipient Andy Montañez expressed his excitement about his participation in this event. “I am doubly honored, first, for having the privilege of cutting the ribbon for Zazón Café’s grand opening, and second, for having been chosen as a recipient for a Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from FTC,” expressed Mr. Montañez, who will be receiving his Honorary Doctorate at Florida Technical College’s graduation ceremony on January 27^th in Orlando for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the Latin American community. “Having a restaurant that can provide FTC’s students with much-needed experience is a great idea. I hope that as young people come in and see what the restaurant is all about, they are also attracted to pursue a career in this important industry,” he stated.

Zazón Café’s concept is all about “zavory” meals in a casual atmosphere, at moderate prices. The Café’s menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner items, featuring American and Latin American cuisine favorites.

“We strive to have a perfect fusion of flavors in order to cater to our customer’s tastes,” explains Mr. Méndez. Some of the featured items are: Breakfast combos, specialty sandwiches, soups, burgers, salads and fried green plantains, among others. “We also feature a made-to-order live cooking station and house dishes of poultry, fish/shellfish and meat”, Méndez added. Hours of operation are convenient for both students and the public: Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. “We invite the community to Zazón Café’s Grand Opening... visit us and try this new culinary alternative in Kissimmee!,” concluded Mr. Méndez.

Florida Technical College will be providing Apple iPad 2 tablets to new students and faculty at its five Central Florida locations starting Nov. 28.*

“The iPad greatly expands the learning universe for our students,” said David Ruggieri, President at Florida Technical College. And, according to Ruggieri, providing this technology to FTC students and faculty assures they stay in step with the technology.

New students in degree and diploma programs at Florida Technical College campuses in Orlando, Lakeland, Kissimmee, DeLand and Pembroke Pines will begin receiving iPad 2 WiFi devices at the start of the new quarter on Monday, with Apple training available on the first day of classes. A technology cost for the device will be included in tuition fees.

The iPad 2 comes with an E-Book application for textbooks. The device offers many unique capabilities for students to be mobile learners, with apps for tracking assignments, taking notes, file sharing on projects and access to thousands of libraries and other educational tools.

Florida Technical College offers associate and bachelor’s degrees and diploma programs in many high-demand occupations – from information technology to health care, from criminal justice to the culinary arts. Graduates may enter the workforce as medical technicians, web designers, paralegals and a range of other professions.

“FTC is continually working to provide programs to meet the ever-changing needs of employers – and that includes technology,” said Ruggieri.

*To receive iPad 2, new students must attend at least one class and completely process their financial aid or payment plan information with the Financial Aid Department.

Story source: www.cfnews13.com