The Helms College, Augusta Campus, will recognize the success of its culinary arts students and celebrate the growth of the college’s mission with a graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25.

Thirty-six students are scheduled to receive the Diploma of Culinary Arts during the commencement exercise at Snelling Center on the Helms College campus, 3165 Washington Road at Fury’s Ferry Road.

The graduation comes as Helms College announces approval from the U.S. Department of Education for federal Title IV funding for the Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts Degree program, and for the new Helms College School of Health and Human Services. In addition to these important developments, Helms College also is negotiating an agreement to accept students from le Cordon Bleu, which recently announced the closure of its culinary arts program at 16 campuses nationwide.

“This winter’s graduation represents the largest graduating class yet from Augusta’s Helms College campus, a clear sign of the hospitality program’s steady growth,” said James K. Stiff, President of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, which operates Helms College. “This long-awaited green light from the Department of Education will provide Helms College with the opportunity to serve even more students with middle skills educational programs designed to give them greater access to a bigger slice of the American Dream.”

Current Helms College students can earn an Associate Degree or Diploma in Culinary Arts from the School of Hospitality, or a certificate as a Patient Care Technician from the School of Health and Human Services. Starting with April quarter classes, health care students also will be offered the opportunity to earn certificates as a Medical Assistant or Medical Administrative Assistant, giving them valuable employment credentials in the fast-growing allied health field.

The keynote speaker for Helms College winter commencement will be Regan Browell, Executive Chef of The Willcox in Aiken, S.C.

Helms College, founded in 2007 in Macon by Goodwill and expanded in 2012 to Augusta, is nationally accredited and its programs are eligible for federal Title IV and Veterans Affairs funding, with tuition assistance available for those who qualify. Helms College is a subsidiary of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. The winter graduation ceremony at the Helms College Macon campus will be held Jan. 28.

Enrollment is underway for the next quarter start on April 18. For more information, contact Helms College admissions staff at (706) 651-9707, or go to www.helms.edu.