CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Preparations are underway Tuesday in the Capital City ahead of the fifth annual Culineering Challenge.
The event, hosted by the state Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE), will feature nine teams competing on Wednesday in the newly named Vandalia Health Center, formerly the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
This year’s event has a “Crash Test Yummy” theme. The Culineering Challenge is based on the Netflix series Baking Impossible. Some cast members from that series will serve as judges and mentors for the students.
Students are tasked with making an “edible crash-test vehicle” that draws inspiration from one of West Virginia’s state parks. Along with presenting their projects to judges, the students must document their journey on social media.
Schools from nine counties are competing, each using a different state park:
– Marion County Technical Center (Marion County), Cacapon Resort State Park
– John Marshall High School (Marshall County), Tygart Lake State Park
– Mason County Career Center (Mason County), Summersville Lake State Park
– Mercer County Technical Education Center (Mercer County), Hawks Nest State Park
– Monongalia County Technical Education Center, University and Morgantown High Schools (Monongalia County), Blackwater Falls State Park
– Wheeling Park High School (Ohio County), Chief Logan State Park
– Summers County Comprehensive High School (Summers County), Tomlinson Run State Park
– Spring Valley High School (Wayne County), North Bend State Park
– Wetzel County Technical Education Center (Wetzel County), Beech Fork State Park
The top three finishers will earn prizes. The “grand champion” receives a $5,000 classroom grant and a team trophy. The second-place finisher earns a $3,000 classroom grant and a “custom-engraved” cutting board. Third place includes a $2,000 classroom grant, as well as another “custom-engraved” cutting board.
Meanwhile, the teams who put together the “best” video and social media documentation will receive certificates.