Tucson man turns life around in the kitchen

61-year-old, Paris Minisee, earns culinary certificate through GAP Ministries program.

THAT'S WHAT SEVERAL TUCSONANSARE BEING OFFERED THROUGH GAPMINISTRIES ... AND IT'S ALLDONE IN THE KITCHEN.

GAPMINISTRIES' CULINARY PROGRAMTRAINS A NUMBER OF STUDENTS AFEW TIMES A YEAR.

NINE ON YOURSIDE'S MEGAN MEIER WENT INSIDETHEIR KITCHEN FOR A FIRST-HANDLOOK.INSTRUCTORS AT GAP MINISTRIESCULINARY SCHOOL DESCRIBE THEOPPORTUNITY AS A FRESH START.RECENT GRADUATE, PARISMINISEE, SAYS JUST HE NEVERTHOUGHT HE'D FIND IT IN THEKITCHEN.-PKG- BEING IN THE KITCHEN ISALL NEW TO SIXTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD, PARIS MINISEE.

PARISMINISEE/GAP MINISTRIESCULINARY TRAINING PROGRAMGRADUATE - "I DIDN'T HAVE ANINTEREST REALLY BEFORE COMINGHERE.

I HAVE COOKED IN THEPAST, BUT NOT ANYTHING LIKETHIS." BEFORE COMING TO GAPMINISTRIES, PARIS SPENT FOURYEARS IN PRISON.

PARISMINISEE/GAP MINISTRIESCULINARY TRAINING PROGRAMGRADUATE - "I GOT INVOLVED INDRUGS WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

IT'SBEEN ON-AND- OFF EVER SINCE."AFTER GETTING OUT IN DECEMBER,HE WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT LIEDAHEAD.

PARIS MINISEE/GAPMINISTRIES CULINARY TRAININGPROGRAM GRADUATE - "I CAME TOTHIS PROGRAM, NOT REALLYKNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

IT'SACTUALLY GIVEN ME A NEW LEASEON LIFE." PARIS HOPES TO USEHIS NEW SKILLS AND COOK FOR ANORGANIZATION THAT HELPSVETERANS -- LIKE HIMSELF.

JOHNHOHN/GAP MINISTRIES CULINARYTRAINING PROGRAM EXECUTIVECHEF - "IT'S GREAT TO HAVE AGOAL.

A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'TFULFILL OUR GOALS, BUT WHEN WEDO, IT'S A HUGE, HUGEBLESSING." -- AND PARIS CANMAKE HIS GOAL A REALITY, WITHTHIS CULINARY CERTIFICATE.

ITRECOGNIZES TEN WEEKS OF HARDWORK AND DEDICATION IN THE GAPMINISTRIES KITCHEN.

PARISMINISEE/GAP MINISTRIESCULINARY TRAINING PROGRAMGRADUATE - "I KNOW MY SON ANDGRANDSON ARE COMING TO SEEINGTHEIR DAD AND GRANDPAGRADUATE.

IT'S AN OVER-THE-TOPFEELING."PARIS IS ONE OF FOUR STUDENTSTO GRADUATE FROM GAPMINISTRIES CULINARY TRAININGPROGRAM, THIS SPRING.

MEGANMEIER -- KGUN NINE ON YOUR