DGS Teen Part of State Champ Culinary Team

A senior from Woodridge was part of a four-member team that took first in state at a culinary competition Saturday. 

Kelly Wagner, of Woodridge, took first place at the 11th Annual ProStart® Student Invitational with a dessert that earned a perfect score. 

Wagner's team members were Eddie Olisar of Darien (Hinsdale South H.S.), Jhoanna Ruiz of Wood Dale (Fenton H.S.), and Carolina Salgado of Addison (Addison Trail H.S.). Their instructor is Chef Matt Barker.

All four attend the Technology Center of DuPage, a satellite high school career and technical education campus for 24 DuPage area high schools. 

With the first place win, each student receives thousands of dollars in scholarship awards from eight post-secondary culinary schools and colleges. They are also able to compete on behalf of TCD at the National ProStart Invitational in April.

Twelve teams from Illinois prepared two identical portions of a three-course meal for the competition, consisting of a starter, entrée and dessert in a 95-minute time frame.

The students were judged on knife skills and poultry fabrication; method and technique; sanitation and safety; professionalism; presentation; recipe costing; organization and teamwork.