Auto tech and culinary arts students participated in the SkillsUSA district competition at T.C. Williams high school Jan. 26 and 29.
SkillsUSA is a student and teacher leadership organization for students who are enrolled in career and technical education. To According to culinary arts teacher Cynthia Stowers, the organization not only provides students with the opportunity to compete and earn scholarships, but also to meet others with similar interests.
“The networking opportunity is huge,” Stowers said. “They meet other students and it’s a great way for them to realize what’s going on outside of our walls, which to me is the most important part of it, not the competition at all.”
Everyone in career and technical education classes had the opportunity to compete in the event. Two students from auto tech and eight students from culinary arts went to the competition.
Two culinary arts students, juniors Miki Konishi and Scott Waters, are moving on to the state competition in Roanake, Virginia April 19-21.
Konishi competed in the Food and Beverage Service event.
“Food and Beverage Service is a competition where you set a table, you serve guests, you serve food, you clear food, and anything that a server would have to do in a restaurant,” Stowers said. “He came in second place, which in our district earns you a right to go to states. Our district is five times bigger than any other district, so we’re allowed to take five of our top winners to state.”
Konishi was very nervous before the event because he had no idea what the competition was going to be like.
“It was interesting because they kind of redid that competition so Chef didn’t know what it was going to be like this year,” Konishi said. “All the other competitors in the different competitions could be directed by Chef but for my competition we didn’t know.”
Waters competed in Job Skill Demonstration and won first place.
“Job Skill Demonstration is where you have to give a five minute presentation and show a very basic skill in the class that you’re taking,” Stowers said. “He competed against students who were in all kinds of programs, not just culinary, and he showed how to make biscuit dough.”
Waters looks forward to the states competition.
“I’m really not expecting to do well necessarily, but I’m expecting more of the experience because it’s really big that culinary level one even made it to states,” Waters said. “I want to experience states now so that next year when I compete I’ll be ready to win.”