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29 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com enabling him to master cooking his entire Thanksgiving dinner this year. "My professors are so passionate and knowledgeable; they help me even beyond the classroom, because they care about my goals." The personalized instruction and small class sizes of about fifteen students make Massasoit's Culinary Arts program an intimate and supportive environment. "We are like a family," says Wright. "The students here know that this is a safe place not only to succeed, but to make mistakes. We learn as much from our mistakes as we do from our accomplishments, if not more. Watching the students grow into themselves is incredibly rewarding. I love that moment when I go to help a student and they say, 'It's okay; I've got it.'" "You're not a number here," says Weeden. "We get to know our students and we want them to do well and succeed." Every student gets a professor twice, if not three times during the program. They not only get to experience professors' different skills sets, but also get to know them well. The Culinary Hospitality Club exposes students to incredible opportunities like attending the International Food Show in New York City, visiting Times Square, and dining at acclaimed restaurants. One year they attended a live viewing of the television show, "The Chew." Students pay for the all of the activities themselves through fundraising. "These experiences enrich academics and the whole person," says Weeden. The success stories of graduates who have gone on to become executive chefs and entrepreneurs bring the professors a great deal of pride. "We have a job board with new positions being added all the time," says Weeden. "There are not enough workers to meet the needs of the prospering food industry." Earning a culinary arts degree at Massasoit Community College offers endless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit www.massasoit.edu or call 508.588.9100. flavors