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Loyalist College Junior Iron Chef Competition

February 10, 2009

Picton’s Prince Edward Collegiate Institute Champions at Loyalist College Junior Iron Chef Competition

On Saturday, February 7, Loyalist College Culinary students hosted the eighth annual Junior Iron Chef Competition for the Quinte and surrounding area high schools.  The three finalists were Kingston’s Loyalist Collegiate Vocational Institute (LCVI), North Hastings High School and Picton’s Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI). First place was awarded to PECI. Second place was presented to LCVI and North Hastings High School from Bancroft placed third. The students competed for entrance awards and numerous other prizes. A total of $4,000 in scholarships was awarded to team members from the three schools, and will be available to those who attend Loyalist College. 

Capitalizing on the success of the Japanese-produced Iron Chef television series, Loyalist students created this unique local competition in order to promote the art of cooking to aspiring young chefs, and to promote the excellence of the College’s Culinary Management program. 

“Members of our team didn’t know each other before the competition but we really came together under the pressure,” said Makela Barnes, a grade ten student and member of the Picton team. “This has been so much fun. We learned so much while training with Chef Michael Sullivan from the Merrill Inn. Being part of this has definitely opened a door and given me insight into this field.”

Suzanne White is the PECI teacher who coordinated the team. “This competition is an opportunity for our students to learn about food on a totally different level than we are able to teach them in the classroom. This is completely extra-curricular for our students and they are very proud of reaching this level. It’s a very positive experience for them. Parents have told me that their kids have grown through their participation and gained confidence they never had before.”

“This year’s organizing team of Culinary students has done an amazing job of preparing for this competition,” said Margaret Beaumaster, a teacher in the program. “The maturity and professionalism of our Loyalist students made them excellent role models for the high school students competing here today.”

Coverage of the event was provided by the third-year students in Loyalist’s Television and New Media Production program. “The set-up and testing for this project was very complex as it was on location and a multi-camera television production,” said Cathy Goddard, a professor in the program. “In addition to it being streamed live to www.LoyalistTV.com, it will also air on Cogeco in the upcoming weeks.”

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Media Contact: Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332; e-mail:  mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca or Margaret Beaumaster, Culinary Program, ext. 2213

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