Walt Disney World invests $1.5 million in Valencia College for new facility in downtown Orlando
Walt Disney World Resort has announced that they’ve made a $1.5 million investment in Orlando’s Valencia College to help transform and relocate their culinary arts and hospitality program to downtown Orlando.
This investment will help fund new, state-of-the-art classrooms and equipment for students to use at the to-be-named Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality.
“We’re proud to support Valencia College’s endeavor to provide affordable culinary and hospitality education opportunities to the downtown Orlando area, which will benefit our entire city,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of the Walt Disney World Resort. “We know how important it is to invest in our talent, and this new campus will help develop the leaders of tomorrow for our thriving and growing city.”
The Valencia College Downtown Campus, a shared campus with the University of Central Florida, will open to students for the fall 2019 semester. The new campus will be the home of Valencia’s culinary and hospitality curriculum, offering degree programs, certificates, and workforce training.
“We couldn’t ask for a more creative and innovative partner than Walt Disney World Resort, and we’re so glad they’ve supported us in our efforts to provide revolutionary learning facilities and educational opportunities,” said Dr. Falecia Williams, campus president of West & Downtown Campuses at Valencia College. “Our latest endeavor to reimagine our culinary arts and hospitality campus and programming will be a transformational experience for our current and future students.”
In addition to the $1.5 million investment, the Walt Disney World Resort culinary team is partnering with Valencia College to offer expertise and experience as they refresh the culinary arts curriculum. Valencia College is also now a part of the Disney Aspire program, where cast members can receive 100-percent paid tuition upfront for a variety of degrees and programs.
