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2/22/2006

CLEARWATER, FL (February 22, 2006) – Tarpon Springs High School tasted success at the
Second Annual Pinellas Culinary Student Invitational Competition. The Sponger chefs took first place for edible centerpiece, second for entrée and third for dessert in the countywide contest held at the Largo Cultural Center.

The Culinary Competition is sponsored by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention &
Visitors Bureau as a fundraiser for high school culinary programs and to showcase the local talent for the area’s tourism industry. The contest is judged by professional chefs from the area’s top restaurants and resorts.

“The judges were very impressed with the skills and talents of the students,” notes Dannette Lynch, Director of Hospitality Education for the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The real winners in the competition are the residents of Pinellas County who will get to taste the efforts of these great students someday at a local restaurant.”

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Pinellas County School
System and the Pinellas County Restaurant Association created the culinary program to educate, encourage and expose students to careers in the culinary arts industry.

From Tarpon Springs, Evan Carpenterdeel took first place for his edible centerpiece; Shane Clark, Jason Issacs and Andrew Jakubowicz took second for entrée and Alyssa Andrews and Autumn Gordy took third for dessert. Tarpon Springs student Theo Kappas also received the Ryan Wells Humanitarian Award named in memory of a Tarpon Springs High School student who lost his life while traveling to a culinary competition.

Eight students participated per school in categories of main entree, dessert and edible centerpiece. All judges are prominent chefs from the area. The goal of this event is to introduce industry partners to their future workforce and to support an event that directly impacts culinary education by funding the food products used in the classroom. The competition was judged on four criteria: flavor, presentation, utilization of product and sanitation. Students hope to gain program recognition, curriculum development, form industry partnerships and practice for state competitions.

“One of the fastest growing industries in the state is the hospitality industry. It is estimated that more than 10,000 new positions will need to be filled within the next 4 years. This competition brings awareness to this need in the tourism industry, the number one industry in Pinellas County,” remarked Carole Ketterhagen Executive Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB.

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Edible Centerpiece
1st Evan Carpenterdeel, Tarpon Springs
2nd Dustin Roy, PTEC Clearwater
3rd TIE Jeff Watson, Northeast & Samantha Hubbell, Osceola
4th Kenneth Benson, Osceola

Entree
1st Northeast (Matt Mott, Josh Rigg, Austin Smith, & Chad Burt)
2nd Tarpon Springs (Shane Clark, Jason Issacs, & Andrew Jakubowicz)
3rd Osceola (Jodge Kastel, Shelbey Young, Kari Foland, & Terran Bagby)
4th PTEC Clearwater (Trevor Taylor, Clayton Hosch, & Michael Frontz)

Dessert
1st Northeast (Jason Juedes & Bret McCown)
2nd PTEC Clearwater (Danielle Macatugob & Kelly Ferguson)
3rd Tarpon Springs (Alyssa Andrews & Autumn Gordy)
4th Osceola (Alysa Curtis & Tiffany Downs)

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