February 25, 2022

By University Relations Student Journalist Josie Kidder

Starting her morning strong, Vincennes University Culinary Arts major Rachel Davis wakes up at 10 a.m., preparing herself a small mouth-watering brunch in her dorm room before a six-hour culinary class.

In class, she prepares many different delicious assortments, including savory meats, healthy cooked vegetables, tasty soups, and an array of salad dishes. Davis also makes a diverse platter of scrumptious baked goods.

"My Haute Cuisine class starts at 3 p.m. but doesn’t end until 9. We get to serve a buffet between 40 to 50 people. We will experience the front of the house, where we learn how to set up, take care of guests, and bus the tables. For the back of the house, we get to cook and prepare how the buffet will look," Davis says.

VU Culinary Arts students' food and skills are center stage during Thursday Night Bistro. Students prepare delicious international and regional cuisine for the University community and the public. The bistro features themed menus such as New England states, Mardi Gras, and Valentine's Day.

"Some of my favorite dishes we've made include peanut butter curry, Chinese dumplings, and spaetzle," Davis says. "My favorite things I made in the bakeshop were bagels, ice cream, challah bread, and strawberry cheesecake."

Davis' culinary endeavors at VU have led the young, ambitious Hammond, Indiana, native to concoct a remarkable goal to pursue.

Since applying to the Disney College Program, Davis hopes that she'll get placed in a food or beverage position. She hopes that it will lend her many opportunities at Disney and other job experiences.

"I aspire to become a sous chef. I also have a dream of opening a crepe shop that I was inspired to do by taking the Menu Planning and Facility Design course I took in my second semester."

Outside of her classes, Davis steps into a leadership role as Vice President of the Triple S Club.

The Triple S Club is unique. It offers diverse activities and is inclusive to all students at VU. Members do many things like creating crafts and watching movies.

"We also play games such as Uno, Farkle, Catan, and so many more. Our meetings are every Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. and every Friday from 2-4 p.m. We are located in Davis Hall, room 416, and are always welcoming new people to come and join in the fun."

She also lends a helping hand to those in need.

Davis volunteers and works at a few different organizations doing extraordinary work while also striving to help VU students feel welcome and at home.

"Every month in Collaborative Opportunities for Postsecondary Education (COPE), I volunteer to go to the animal shelter. Last semester, I was able to help make tie blankets for foster kids. I am a student ambassador, where I get to work START VU days, where I welcome all the new students and help them set up their VU accounts. I am also a student worker for the COPE program. I get to help with workshops, help prepare midterm food for our program students, and many other jobs."

Ending her day on a high note, Davis enjoys heading back to her dorm room.

"VU offers great campus living areas because in my dorm I have the resources available when I need them. It also gives me the opportunity to live independently.”

Relaxing in her room, Davis spends time calling her loved ones, taking memorable photos of things that astound her, and expanding her massive collection of squishmallows and funko pops.

Explore VU's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management associate degrees and certificates.

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