Events
Students Win Gold at Elite ACF Competition
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 9, 2024) – Wake Tech students wowed the judges and earned 43 medals Wednesday at the NC American Culinary Federation (ACF) competition on Scott Northern Wake Campus, including an impressive 15 gold medals.
Five of those gold medals came in the Wedding Cake category. Every student who entered a cake won gold – a first for the competition, which began in 2009.
Students also competed in Sugar Showpiece, Chocolate Showpiece and Wild Card Cake categories. Twelve entries earned silver, and 16 received bronze.
Amber Quinn won Best in Show for her cake "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," inspired by her journey at Wake Tech and the experiences she has had in the Baking & Pastry Arts program.
"Each plaque on the cake represents something about the program that is important to me," said Quinn, who works at a bakery in Garner and will graduate in May. "I even featured the Wake Tech torch on the flower vase!"
Chef Eric Stopka, a Wake Tech assistant professor, won a bronze medal in the professional Sugar Showpiece category. His colorful creation, complete with multiple hand-crafted flowers, was inspired by his daughter, Scarlett.
The ACF competition is the largest competition of its kind in the country and serves as a class project for students in Wake Tech's AAS programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. All entries were judged on artistry, craftsmanship, theme and presentation and were awarded points using the official ACF scale.
Caralyn House, program director for Baking & Pastry Arts, said the judges were very impressed by all the cakes and showpieces.
"It's been very exciting to see your incredibly creative work! Some of you just started a few months ago – what an amazing job!"
Wake Tech offers a degree program in Hospitality Management, in addition to Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. All three programs are extremely popular and prepare students for quick entry into the workforce. With experience, graduates can advance from entry-level positions to careers in a variety of settings, including restaurants, bakeries and hotels.
