AHS culinary students, mechanic place well in state competition

ARLINGTON — Even though Arlington High School has no commercial baking program, two students fared well recently in a statewide commercial baking competition.

“We practice a lot by doing a lot of baking,” said teacher Dorothy Edwards, who works with co-teacher Cheryl Allen in family and consumer science education.

“In the past we did Pro Start, but three years ago, we attended Skills USA,” Edwards said.

The program includes food preparation classes, fashion design, family health and child development, she said.

One class, “On Your Own,” prepares students for breaking away from home, teaching useful skills for young adults in their first apartment.

The program also teaches fashion design with a new CAD program that provides students a chance to design their own patterns.

Three students competed in commercial baking.

A sophomore, Mereesa Peterson won second place in commercial baking, and a senior, Allyssa Borresson won third place in culinary.

After they competing in a regional competition of Skills USA, Edwards sent in her students’ scores and then they were invited to the state competition.

She said the competition was arduous.

“In the commercial baking category they spent six hours baking a yeast bread, a sweet dough pastry, a scone, a pie, and a cake complete with decorations.

In the culinary competitions, they spent two hours preparing an appetizer, entree and dessert.

Edwards said another AHS student, who is studying diesel mechanics at Sno-Isle Skill Center, Ronald Sheppard, also placed second in his category.

“Skills USA put on this great competition in Yakima,” Edwards said.

It provides a competitive challenge to students in the vocational education, from automotive and diesel mechanics, and cosmetology, to health, first aid and firefighting as well as a variety of food service industries.

“They also do leadership competitions,” Edwards said.

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