Netflix stars participate in WV 2024 Culineering Challenge

News Release
September 26, 2024

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is pleased to announce the nine career technical education (CTE) teams participating in the Third Annual Culineering Challenge: Bake and Quake event. The challenge is modeled after the Netflix original series Baking Impossible. The 2024 competition is Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 8 a.m. at Mountwest Community and Technical College (1 Mountwest Way, Huntington, West Virginia 25701).

The CTE Culineering Challenge allows multi-disciplinary teams to use engineering, culinary and marketing expertise to design and produce an edible structure that can withstand the rigors of the competition. This year, teams will bake and assemble structures that are at least 40 inches tall. Each structure will undergo challenges that test durability and overall build quality.

Baking Impossible Season 1 Winner Sara Schonour learned about the CTE competition while living in Boston. She contacted WVDE Assistant Superintendent Clinton Burch and asked to be involved in this year’s event. She will serve as a head judge of engineering and has facilitated her former cast members to mentor teams through the process. Several of them will travel to West Virginia for the event.

Teams

James Rumsey Technical Institute (Berkeley)
Huntington High School/Huntington East Middle School (Cabell)
Marion County Technical Center (Marion)
Mercer County Technical Education Center (Mercer)
Wheeling Park High School (Ohio)
Spring Valley High School (Wayne)
Hundred High School (Wetzel)
Wetzel County Technical Education Center (Wetzel)
Wyoming Career & Technical Center (Wyoming)

Teams submitted a video detailing team composition, rationale for selection, creativity and originality of design, team dynamics and how culinary and engineering programs will be incorporated into the design.

Each five-member team features two culinary students (ProStart or baking/pastry), two engineering students (engineering, computer science or robotics) and one social media manager.

“When I learned of this exciting competition developed by the West Virginia Department of Education, I knew I had to be involved in some way,” said Schonour. “This is what learning should be about – combining education, practical experience and critical thinking. My time on Baking Impossible taught me to enjoy every aspect of the process and view the successes and failures as opportunities to learn and improve. I know that Bake and Quake will provide the same for these students.”

“The Culineering Challenge is one of many unique learning experiences our CTE programs offer students in West Virginia,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “By combining culinary, engineering and marketing, students engage in a cross-disciplinary experience to achieve a common goal. I’m grateful for the dedicated educators who create opportunities that put students’ talents and skills to the test. This is hands-on learning at its best.”

The first-place team will receive the champion cup (designed by Wheeling Park High School students), a $5,000 CTE program grant and $200 for each team member courtesy of the West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association Educational Foundation. The second-place team will receive a $3,000 CTE program grant. The third-place team will receive a $2,000 CTE program grant. Additionally, all three teams will receive custom engraved cutting boards for their classroom.