Nine students from the Culinary Arts Program at Ozarka College competed recently against students from other state vocational-technical institutes and colleges in the 43rd annual Arkansas Association of SkillsUSA 2009 Championship Conference, held at the Hot Springs Convention Center on April 13-15.

Ozarka had three students winning medals this year in the competition. Shane Lively of Calico Rock won the Gold Medal in Culinary Arts; Karen Brown of Batesville won Bronze in Commercial Baking; and Jacob Conley of Cherokee Village won Bronze in Dining Room Service.

Culinary Arts is a rigorous division of competition where students execute technical cuts on poultry, make a broth then use it for an entr`e; prepare a Caesar salad, rice pilaf, saut`ed chicken, and julienne strips of zucchini and yellow squash, among other preparations. Along with Shane Lively; Glen Lunsford of Sidney, and Mario Romero of Batesville competed in this division.

In the Commercial Baking division, competitors had to prepare several baked goods including: apple pie, yeast bread, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, fruit filled coffee ring, French horns, sugar cookies, puff pastries and cake decorating. Along with Karen Brown; Virginia Ferguson of Batesville, and Cheryl Weaver of Evening Shade competed in the baking division.

The Dining Room Service competition tests students on their ability of hosting, table setup and serving guests in a full course dining situation. Conley's classmates: Telisa Van Winkle of Cave City, and LaDawna Brewer of Draso also competed in this category.

Accompanying the students to the competition was Ozarka College's SkillsUSA Advisor and Culinary Arts instructors, Linda Taylor and Mimi Newsome.  Taylor commended the students for their hard work throughout the year. "They put in long days and nights and this event is a culmination for their efforts."  She adds, "This group of students represented Ozarka College and their communities very well."

All the state level gold medalists are eligible for the National SkillsUSA competition which will take place in Kansas City, Missouri June 22-26. Shane Lively will be attending and competing in that competition.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students enrolled in technical, skilled, and service occupations.  

For information about applying to Ozarka College's Culinary Arts program, contact Ozarka College Admissions at 870-368-7371. 



Left to right: (back row) Glen Lunsford, Karen Brown, Jacob Conley, Virginia Ferguson, Shane lively and Mario Romero; (front row) Linda Taylor, Telisa Van Winkle, LaDawna Brewer, Cheryl Weaver, and Mimi Newsome.