FCCLA competition winners announced

Three Illinois high-school students coached by Kendall College's School of Culinary Arts won first place at the national Culinary Arts Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) competition during the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America's (FCCLA) 2010 National Leadership Conference at Kendall College in July.

Three-student teams representing 36 states created a menu of tomato and asparagus salad with mozzarella and vinaigrette; Maxwell Street-style pork chop with onions and roesti potatoes; and a fresh fruit tart. This year's winning team, coached by Kendall chef-instructor Michel Coatrieux, was made up of Collin Bumberculled of Lockport Township High School; Brian Francis of Lyons Township North High School, LaGrange; and Alex Tondu of York High School, Elmhurst. In addition to their gold medals, Kendall College offered the three first place students up to $42,000 each in scholarships for a four-year BA in culinary arts (or, up to $3,500 per term).

The STAR event recognizes students enrolled in high school occupational culinary arts/foodservice training programs for their ability to work as a team to produce a quality meal using foodservice tools and techniques. For more information about STAR or FCCLA, visit www.fcclainc.org.