Texarkana College Culinary Program Partners With Walk-Ons Restaurant

Texarkana College does a great job of stirring up career opportunities for their students. This time they've done so by creating a partnership with the new local franchise, Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar, which will bring about 150 jobs to the area.

According to the news release, this is their first time to partner with a higher education culinary arts program.

Texarkana College culinary arts instructors say the restaurant first approached them about the partnership, months before opening, representatives from Walk-On's began visiting students.

"I want to be able to have a career out of it. It's definitely a big step in the door for not only me, but everyone else in the program," said Jackson Feemster, a second semester Texarkana College Culinary Arts student.

 

He's also just landed a new job at Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar that opened on Monday, February 3. .

Texarkana College Culinary Arts Program Coordinator Chef Sheila Lynn says ten of her students and former students have been hired by the franchise.

The partnership allows students to intern with the franchise, or even work their way up to a management position.

Ricky Tompkins, one of the local owners of Walk-On's said the following:

"It's great that we have students that are already familiar with a lot of the culinary practices and we already know they have the passion for food.

There are currently about 30 students in the Texarkana College Culinary Arts Program, which is the largest enrollment they've had for the program.

Chef Lynn believes the partnership with Walk-On's will increase interest in their program even more.