Paul Smith's College Cooking Competition Hits the Web

PAUL SMITHS, NY (03/01/2012)(readMedia)-- The 15th edition of the Cooking for Scholarships competition at Paul Smith's College will add something new to the mix: A live webcast of the action.

The event will award $24,000 in scholarships and will be shown at www.paulsmiths.edu/video. The competition begins at noon on Saturday, March 3. Mary Morin, of WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, will be the event's master of ceremonies.

Nearly 30 contestants from across the Northeast are expected at the event, which will test students' knowledge of cooking terms and techniques as well as their own abilities. Students will compete in one of two categories – culinary arts or baking. They will be presented with identical ingredients and given several hours to prepare either a meal or a selection of baked goods.

A panel of faculty chefs will judge the results in each category. A $7,000 scholarship will be awarded to each first-place winner; the second-place winners will each get a $4,000 scholarship, and the third-place winners will each get a $1,000 scholarship. Several other competitors will receive a cutlery or baking kit.

"Every year, the Cooking for Scholarships competition brings some really talented young chefs to campus," said Eric Felver, vice president for enrollment management at Paul Smith's. "It's great that the contestants will get a chance to show off their skills to friends, family and others online, as the event happens."

To qualify for the competition, students must be in high school or have completed fewer than 30 credits at another college. Competitors must also have been accepted into a culinary arts or baking program at Paul Smith's.

The competition will be held at the Statler Foundation Culinary Training Facility on the Paul Smith's campus. That building includes seven culinary laboratories and is also home to the Wally Ganzi Jr. Restaurant Training Center, which is modeled after the renowned Palm steak houses.

About Paul Smith's College

At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. Our programs, in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences, draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere.