Sugar and spice fill the hands of the students. Savory and sweet await the taste buds of the judges. Cupcakes, cooks and competition come together to educate, experience and empower the young and curious minds of students across the state.

Four students will advance to the UIL State culinary cupcake and mystery basket competition in April after placing in the top six places in the regional competition Feb. 25. Accompanied by culinary arts teacher Carrie-Anne Stanglin, senior Rebecca Boehs and junior Emily Ray will advance as part of the cupcake competition, and seniors Andrew Monroe and Dylan Knight will advance on behalf of the mystery basket competition.

“There were lots of different events at the competition, but Mrs. Stanglin only took us to compete in two of them, which is the cupcake or the mystery box,” Boehs said.

For the regional cupcake contest, the competitors did not have to bake their cupcakes for the judges. At the state competition, however, they will have a two-hour time period to complete their baking process.

“You have to bring them already premade, and then all you have to do is present them to the judges, they ask you questions and you have to answer,” Ray said. “At state you have two hours to cook your cupcakes and if you don’t get them in the timed process then you get disqualified.”

Similar to the Food Network show Chopped, the mystery basket competition is a surprise for the competitors and does not allow them to have their meals prepared beforehand.

“You go in there and there are three ingredients you have to incorporate into a dish, and your dish has to have a protein a starch and a vegetable,” Knight said. “They grade you on process, technique, cutting and everything with knives, and then sanitation.”

By participating in the contest, the students each received a $500 scholarship for the culinary school sponsoring the competition. Those who placed also received an additional scholarship. Boehs and Monroe received $3000 for placing first, Knight received $2500 and Ray received $1500.

“It’s mainly culinary schools–I can’t remember if it was Johnson and Wales or the other university that was sponsoring the event–but as soon as you walked in the door, everybody got a $500 certificate for a scholarship if you go to their school,” Knight said.

Most scholarships earned at these events are only applicable for culinary school; however, some schools will match the money earned.

“For getting second place I got $2500, so I could be walking away with $3000, but I’m not going to their school,” Knight said. “They said you can try and see if it will transfer to your school, but most likely it will not.”

Culinary students say they enjoy participating because the class is not only beneficial for building skills, but also is a fun and inviting environment.

“I enjoy learning how to cook, and I think everybody needs to learn how to cook,” Ray said. “Everybody needs that skill.”