TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Weeks of hard work culminated in a special moment Friday at the Salvation Army of Tallahassee building.
The latest crop of graduates from the Inclusion Cafe Academy received their certificates and red chef’s uniform from academy creator Bill Schack.
This was the fourth cohort of graduates, bringing the total number over the past two years to 20.
Schack said the day represents an incredible amount of growth from his students, who show up with unique abilities and an appetite to learn.
“When it comes time for them to get a job, they feel such confidence that they know a lot, that they’re getting hired for what they know, not because of who they are,” Schack said.
More Tallahassee news:
One of the graduates this year was Tonnie Rollins. He was considered the de facto leader of this group and he hopes to run his own restaurant one day.
“ [It’s] going great. Everything is good. Starting a new journey,” he said.
Smith Merrill was another graduate. He said he was proud of himself for making it to the finish line.
“Keep going no matter how tough it gets,” he shared. “I had a couple points where I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ But then I realized, you know what, I’m going to keep on through, and he made it worth my while.”
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.